Stray dogs SC verdict highlights: Animal lovers celebrate at Jantar Mantar after relief

Stray dogs SC order Live: The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that feeding stray dogs will not be permitted on the streets and directed the municipal authorities of Delhi-NCR to create dedicated spaces for it.

“Under no condition shall the feeding of stray dogs on the streets be permitted,” a three-judge special bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath said.

Animal activist and BJP leader Maneka Gandhi welcomed the Supreme Court's directive on creation of dedicated feeding stations for stray dogs, restricting street feeding.

“It is absolutely right (order to create designated feeding areas). They (civic authority) also have to put up signboards for such designated areas...The court has stated that its ruling applies throughout the country...,” Gandhi told news agency ANI.

Stray dogs SC verdict live: Pronounding an order directing the picking up of dogs and subsequent release after sterilisation, the Supreme Court explained why permanently placing the animals in shelters won't work.

“A blanket direction to pick up all the strays and place them in dog shelters/pounds without evaluating the existing infrastructure may lead to a catch-22 situation because such directions may be impossible to comply with,” the order read.

The Supreme Court on Friday observed that the previous order on stray dogs in Delhi-NCR was “too harsh”, as it pronounced an order modifying the previous directive. “The direction given in the order dated 11th August, 2025, prohibiting the release of the treated and vaccinated dogs seems to be too harsh, in our opinion,” the order copy read.

Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court's verdict allowing the release of dogs after sterilisation and immunisation, and told news agency ANI, “I am happy that the SC has upheld the constitutional right for all living beings to live with dignity and compassion. It is the essence of our country. Citizens have always looked after animals and strays...”.

She also said she hopes to see the implementation of the top court's directive on dedicated feeding stations.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has welcomed the Supreme Court's directive on stray dogs and their sterilisation, saying the move was “rooted in scientific reasoning”.

"I welcome the Supreme Court’s revised directions on stray dogs, as it marks a progressive step toward balancing animal welfare and public safety. The approach is both compassionate and rooted in scientific reasoning," Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X.

Stray dogs SC verdict live: The Supreme Court on Friday said strays will be released after sterlisation and immunisation, retreating from its earlier directive that asked authorities to put the stray dogs of Delhi-NCR in shelter homes. The softening of the earlier blanket order comes amid backlash from dog lovers.

The Supreme Court, however, said no to feeding of stray dogs on streets. Those found feeding stray dogs on streets shall be liable to be proceeded with under relevant legal framework, said the Supreme Court

Stray dogs SC verdict live: Delhi Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh on Friday welcomed Supreme Court's revised decision on stray dogs in the NCR region stating that it is a very good decision.

"We welcome the decision. This is a very good decision, and we will implement it 100%. The dog lovers and the NGOs also wanted the dogs to be sterilised and left. The corporation already did the same. Ferocious and aggressive dogs that have developed the habit of biting should be treated and kept. The public should not face any problem. We all love street dogs and we are all dog lovers, so this is a very good decision...," Raja Iqbal Singh told ANI.

Stray dogs SC verdict live: Congress MP and Lok Sabha leader of opposotion has welcomed the SC verdict on removal of stray dogs.

“I welcome the Supreme Court’s revised directions on stray dogs, as it marks a progressive step toward balancing animal welfare and public safety. The approach is both compassionate and rooted in scientific reasoning,” the Congress MP wrote on X.

Earlier today, the SC announced a stay on the August 11 order issued by a previous top court bench, which called for the removal of all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR

Reacting to the Supreme Court's order on stray dogs today, AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj jabbed the Delhi MCD, saying he immunisation of the dogs has not been done by the authorities on time.

“The remark made by the Supreme Court is very important; the MCD did not do its work. The MCD has to do its work. It is MCD's responsibility to catch the stray dogs and immunise them. The Delhi CM and Mayor, both coming from the BJP, have to work on this...,” he told news agency ANI.

Gauri Maulekhi, a member of ‘People of Animals’, welcomed the Supreme Court's order on releasing dogs after being sterilised, and said, “I am very happy with the order and extremely grateful that the Supreme Court has upheld the rule of law. The feeding of dogs has been recognised by the court. Under the rules of the municipal corporation, the dogs already picked up need to be sterilised and released back,” reported ANI.

Stray dogs SC verdict live: The Supreme Court has ordered the construction of dedicated stations for feeding stray dogs, restricting public feeding. Population and concentration of stray dogs in particular municipal ward would be some factors to be kept in mind as civic bodies create the stations.

Stray dogs SC verdict live:Reacting to the court's directive to dog lovers and NGOs to pay for dog shelters, advocate of petitioner Vivek Sharma said, ““The observation (of imposing fine) of ₹25,000 and ₹2 lakh in the order is meant for NGOs and intervenors who intervened in the suo motu matter, not for common people. The purpose of it can be understood by going through the order. These funds will be used for the welfare of dogs,” reported news agency PTI.

Stray dogs SC verdict live: Animal activists and NGOs that approached the Supreme Court against the earlier stray dogs order have been directed to pay for construction of dog shelters. Each dog lover and NGO is asked to pay ₹25,000 and ₹2 lakh respectively, reported Bar and Bench.

Stray dogs SC verdict live: “I am very happy with this scientific judgement. Relocation and fear are the only reasons for dogs biting. There is no question of releasing dogs infected with Rabies,” animal rights activist and BJP leader Maneka Gandhi said on Friday, welcoming the SC order on stray dogs.

However, she also said that the court needs to define what an aggressive dog is.

Stray dogs SC verdict live: Congress leader Abhishek Dutt has reacted to the Supreme Court modifying the earlier Supreme Court order, and also accused the Delhi MCD of running a “big scam” for nearly 14 years.

“Many thanks to the Supreme Court for giving a very good judgment and this was also the rule... During my tenure at the Municipal Corporation, we would raise the issue in the House: how could the MCD sterilise stray dogs without staff? In the last 12-14 years, MCD has spent crores of rupees in the name of sterilisation – it was a very big scam. The dog that has rabies or is aggressive should definitely be removed. But the one is not doing anything to anyone, where will you take them?” he asked.

Stray dogs SC verdict live: From the order on dogs' release after sterilisation and immunisation to directions of making dedicated feeding stations for strays, the Supreme Court some big observations on Friday. Check full story.

Stray dogs SC verdict live: Sonali Gaba, who runs a shelter home for dogs, has welcomed the Supreme Court's verdict, saying she had faith the court would rule in favour of dog lovers. “You can't say that any and every dog is aggressive; there should be proof. We are happy with the SC order. We are happy that the court has ruled on creating designated feeding areas for dogs,” she told news agency ANI.

Nanita Sharma, one of the petitioners who challenged the August 11 Supreme Court order on stray dogs, has welcomes the top court's latest directive ordering the release of stray dogs after sterlisation.

"This is a balanced order. The court has involved all states in this case. All matters regarding dog issues pending in all courts in all states will be brought under one. They have said that regular dogs should be sterilised and aggressive dogs should be put in pounds/ animal shelters. The court has ruled that MCD will establish designated feeding areas for dogs..." she was quoted as saying by ANI.

The Supreme Court has pronounced its verdict on the stray dogs case and has listed the matter for a hearing again after eight weeks.

Stray dogs SC verdict live: Even as it stayed the earlier order on relocation of dogs, the Supreme Court reportedly upheld one provision from the August 11 verdict - action against those obstructing the picking up of stray dogs.

While it stayed the earlier order on picking up of stray dogs and not releasing them back in Delhi-NCR, the Supreme Court also restricting public feeding of the canines, ordering dedicated feeding stations be made, reported LiveLaw. According to news agency PTI, the top court also said that those found feeding stray dogs in public shall be liable to be proceeded with under relevant legal framework.

Pausing the August 11 verdict directing relocation of stray dogs within eight weeks in Delhi-NCR, the three-judge Supreme Court bench on Friday said, “The dogs which are picked up must be released after sterilisation and immunisation, except those infected with rabies or exhibiting aggressive behaviour", LiveLaw reported.

This means the dogs would still be picked up but would be released after sterilisation, as opposed to what the earlier order dictated.

Stray dogs SC verdict live: The Supreme Court has stayed the order from August 11 directing the picking up and relocation of stray dogs and localities in Delhi-NCR.

A Supreme Court bench will also heard a Rajasthan High Court's order directing picking up of stray dogs from streets and localities.