Delhi Stray Dogs: Relocation to Shelters, No Room for ‘Virtue Signaling’ says SC

New Delhi, Aug 11:

The Supreme Court, in a suo motu case over stray dog attacks in Delhi-NCR, has ordered that all stray dogs be permanently relocated to shelters at the earliest. The directions came from a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, with the full order uploaded on Wednesday.

The court emphasised that while dogs must not be mistreated in shelters, coexistence cannot come at the cost of human safety—especially amid rising cases of dog bites and rabies, particularly among children.

A new three-judge bench—Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria—will continue hearing the matter on Thursday.

Key Observations from the Supreme Court

• The judiciary must not be swayed by popular sentiment but uphold justice, conscience, and equity.

• Courts have a duty to remind people of uncomfortable truths, even if unpopular.

• Those with genuine care for stray dogs are encouraged to adopt or take responsibility for their upkeep in shelters.

• The court rejected “virtue signalling” in the name of animal care, urging practical action over mere words.

• Rising dog-bite incidents demand immediate measures—streets must not remain zones of vulnerability.

• There is no reliable way to distinguish rabies-infected dogs from healthy ones, making proactive measures essential.

The case began on July 28 following reports of rabies deaths and frequent dog attacks in the national capital.