Supreme Court Upholds Removal of Stray Dogs From Schools, Hospitals, Railway Stations; Says Public Safety Paramount
New Delhi, May 19: In a landmark 131-page judgment, the Supreme Court of India has strongly upheld its earlier directions ordering the removal of stray dogs from sensitive public and institutional spaces such as schools, hospitals, railway stations, bus stands, sports complexes and airports, stressing that public safety and the right to life under Article 21 cannot be compromised.
The judgment was delivered in In Re: “City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price”, where the apex court examined multiple petitions seeking modification and recall of its November 7, 2025 order.
Supreme Court Highlights Rising Dog-Bite Threat
The Supreme Court took judicial notice of the alarming increase in dog-bite incidents and stray animal intrusions across India, especially in educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus depots and railway stations.
The bench observed that these incidents pose a “serious risk” to children, patients, staff and the general public, and blamed systemic administrative lapses and lack of coordination among authorities.
Important Highlight
Supreme Court says unchecked stray dog presence violates citizens’ fundamental right to life and safety under Article 21. The apex court directed all municipal authorities and state governments to:
- Remove stray dogs from schools, colleges, hospitals, bus stands, railway stations and sports complexes.
- Shift them to designated shelters after sterilisation and vaccination.
- Ensure such dogs are not released back to the same institutional locations.
- Strengthen fencing, gates and structural protection at institutions.
- Conduct regular inspections of public institutions.
- Maintain anti-rabies vaccine stock in hospitals.
- Conduct awareness programmes in schools.
Most Important Observation
The Supreme Court specifically directed that stray dogs picked up from institutional premises “shall not be released back to the same location.”
The court said reintroducing stray dogs to the same places would “frustrate” the purpose of securing institutional spaces for public safety.
Court Rejects Animal Welfare Groups’ Main Argument
Animal welfare organisations argued that the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023 mandate sterilised dogs to be released back to the same locality from where they were captured.
However, the Supreme Court rejected this interpretation.
Major Legal Interpretation
The court ruled that hospitals, schools, airports, sports complexes and railway stations are “sensitive institutional premises” and cannot be treated as ordinary public streets or localities under the ABC Rules.
The judgment clarified that:
- Stray dogs do not have an “absolute right” to occupy every public space.
- Institutional premises must remain sterile, safe and obstruction-free.
- Public safety overrides unrestricted animal presence in sensitive zones.
Supreme Court Says Public Safety Comes First
The court made strong remarks on balancing animal welfare with human safety. The bench observed that the right to life includes safe public spaces, freedom of movement, health and protection from hazards caused by stray dogs.
The judgment noted that:
- Children, elderly citizens and patients are especially vulnerable.
- Dog attacks and rabies remain major public health threats.
- Unchecked stray dog population affects daily life and mobility.
Massive Financial Burden Discussed in Court
Animal welfare groups also told the Supreme Court that implementing the order nationwide would require:
- Over 77,000 shelters,
- Thousands of acres of land,
- Annual expenditure exceeding ₹22,000 crore,
- Large-scale veterinary and staffing infrastructure.
The court examined these arguments in detail while analysing the feasibility of implementation.
Supreme Court’s Final Stand
In its final conclusion on the issue, the Supreme Court reaffirmed its November 2025 directions and held that institutional spaces must remain free from stray dog habitation.
The bench ruled that:
- Schools,
- Hospitals,
- Sports complexes,
- Airports,
- Bus depots,
- Railway stations
cannot be treated as normal “street localities” for the purpose of re-releasing stray dogs under the ABC Rules.
About the Author
