Supreme Court reserves verdict on pleas for modification of earlier orders on stray dogs

The Supreme Court on Thursday (January 29, 2026) reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas seeking modification of earlier orders in the stray dogs case.

A bench of justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria reserved its decision after hearing amicus curiae Gaurav Agarwal, who summarised the steps taken by states like Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The Bench also heard the counsel appearing for NHAI regarding compliance of the November 7, 2025 direction where the authority was directed to remove stray animals from National Highways and fencing of roads.

The top court asked the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to process the applications of NGOs seeking permission to animal shelters or animal birth control facilities.

“Either you accept it or reject the applications but do it expeditiously,” the bench told the counsel appearing for AWBI, who pointed out that after the November 7 order of the court, there was a surge in such applications from different organisations.

The top court asked the parties to file their written submissions as early as possible in the matter.

On Wednesday (January 28, 2026), the top court flagged its concern over State governments not complying with its directions to enhance their stray dogs sterilisation capacity, saying, “They are all building castles in the air.”

The top court was hearing several petitions seeking modification of its November 7, 2025, order directing authorities to remove stray animals from the institutional areas and roads.

On January 13, the top court said it would ask states to pay a “heavy compensation” for dog bite incidents and hold dog feeders accountable for such cases.

The court also flagged concerns over the non-implementation of norms on stray animals for the last five years.

Taking note of the “alarming rise” in dog-bite incidents within institutional areas such as educational institutions, hospitals and railway stations, the apex court on November 7 directed relocation of stray canines forthwith to designated shelters after due sterilisation and vaccination.

It had also said stray dogs picked up shall not be released back to their original place.

The court had directed authorities to ensure the removal of all cattle and other stray animals from the state highways, national highways and expressways.

The top court is hearing a suo motu case, initiated on July 28 last year, over a media report on stray dog bites leading to rabies, particularly among children, in the national capital.