'Can't read animals' mind': Supreme Court on stray animals pleas, stresses on prevention better than cure
PTC News Desk: The Supreme Court on Wednesday while hearing stray dogs case, asserted that no one can read an animal's mind when he is in a mood to bite or not, adding that "prevention is better than cure".
Justice Vikram Nath began the hearing by saying that the court is willing to listen to both sides — those who support and those who oppose the measures being discussed in the stray dogs case. He stressed the seriousness of the issue and said the bench has enough time today to hear all viewpoints.
This set the stage for an extensive hearing involving various stakeholders with differing concerns about public safety and animal welfare. The Supreme Court was informed that the Animal Welfare Board of India has prepared and issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) for dog sterilisation and the handling of stray animals. The SOP was released in November 2025, as directed earlier by the court, to ensure consistent rules and accountability across states and local authorities.
The bench again expressed concern about the sharp rise in dog bite cases in schools, hospitals, railway stations and sports facilities. It said such repeated incidents show not only poor administration but also a deeper systemic failure to protect public areas from avoidable dangers.
The hearing is part of the Supreme Court’s ongoing suo motu action on increasing dog bite incidents and the broader issue of stray animals, including cattle, on public roads and highways.
- With inputs from agencies
