Supreme Court Orders Removal of Stray Dogs from Streets, Citing Children’s Safety After Tragic Rabies Deaths

The streets of Delhi NCR have long been haunted by a silent predator — packs of stray dogs that have left countless children injured, disfigured, or dead after vicious attacks.

Monday’s Supreme Court order marks a turning point for grieving parents who have watched their children suffer unimaginable pain from bites that, in too many cases, led to rabies and death. Street dog menace, it may be mentioned, is not confined to Delhi alone but nearly all cities and streets in the country.

The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan, issued a landmark directive: all stray dogs in Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, and Ghaziabad must be removed from residential localities and shifted to dedicated shelters within eight weeks.

More importantly, the Court ordered that once removed, these dogs must never be released back into the streets — a decision it said was necessary to protect human lives, especially children’s.

The bench took suo motu cognisance after a media report exposed the alarming frequency of dog bite cases, many involving children playing outside their homes or walking to school.

The justices spoke bluntly: “Can animal lovers bring back the children who have died of rabies?” The question cut to the heart of a growing public health crisis.

While animal rights groups argue that this move violates India’s Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, the Court dismissed such objections for now, stating, “Forget the rules — lives are being lost. Streets must be made free of stray dogs.”

Parents of victims say the decision comes too late for their children but could save others. Stories abound of toddlers mauled in colonies, schoolchildren chased and bitten on their way to class, and young lives cut short by rabies — a disease that still kills in India despite being preventable through vaccination.

Animal welfare bodies like the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) have warned that mass sheltering is impractical and cruel to animals, citing global best practices that advocate sterilisation and vaccination instead of removal.

But for families who have lost their children, these arguments ring hollow when weighed against the trauma and permanent scars — both physical and emotional — caused by dog attacks.

For now, the Court’s order brings a glimmer of hope to thousands of parents who have been demanding action for years. The next eight weeks will determine whether the streets of Delhi NCR can finally become safe for children to play, walk, and live without fear.

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