The Supreme Court on Friday stayed an earlier directive that mandated the permanent relocation of stray dogs from streets to shelters across the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), amid widespread protests.
A three-judge special bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria stayed the earlier order of a two-judge bench, which had instructed authorities to pick up stray dogs from all localities “at the earliest” and shift them to shelters.
The bench also prohibited feeding stray dogs in public places, warning that violations would invite appropriate action.
The previous order had faced criticism from animal welfare groups, who argued that shelters are inadequate and ill-equipped, and insisted that the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme—which mandates sterilization and vaccination before releasing dogs back to their original locations—remains the only lawful and humane solution. (Agencies)
