Supreme Court says earlier order to remove stray dogs from public places stays: Cant ignore dog bites

PTC News Desk: The Supreme Court on Monday rejected all petitions seeking modification of its November 2025 order to remove stray dogs from public places across country. The earlier order directed removal of stray dogs from public places institutions and spaces such as hospitals, schools, colleges, bus stations and railway stations, saying it could not remain “blind to harsh realities”.

Defending its earlier direction, the top court observed that incidents involving stray dog attacks had become a serious public safety concern, particularly for children and senior citizens. 

Taking cognizance of rising attacks by stray dogs, the court further said that young children had been mauled, elderly people attacked and even foreign tourists affected in several incidents reported across the country.

The court said it looked like a “survival of the fittest” situation on the ground, where weaker and vulnerable people were being left to protect themselves because the authorities were not taking proper action.

It said that children and elderly people should not be forced to face such dangers on their own, and that governments have a responsibility to protect people’s lives and ensure public safety. The court also refused to change its earlier order directing that stray dogs be moved from public areas to shelters.

Most importantly, the Supreme Court said that the right to life and personal freedom under Article 21 also includes the right of every citizen to move around freely and use public spaces without constantly fearing dog attacks or other dangerous incidents.

The bench further said that the government cannot simply stand by and watch when preventable dangers to human life continue, especially when laws and systems already exist to deal with such problems.