Growing Stray Dog Population Root Of Problem, Aggressively Implement Sterilisation Programme: Bombay High Court To Maharashtra

The Bombay High Court on Friday (August 14) observed that the major problem with the stray dogs menace is the increasing population of stray dogs and therefore, ordered the Maharashtra Government to aggressively implement the 'sterilisation' program as mandated under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules of 2023.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad took up a suo motu PIL as ordered by the Supreme Court in its suo motu proceedings, directing all High Courts to monitor the issue of stray dogs menace especially the problems of dog bite incidents in their respective State.

On Friday, when the matter was called out, Additional Government Pleader Onkar Chandurkar placed on record affidavits filed by the State Government.

During the hearing, bench sought to know how often does the State updates data with regards to the cases of rabies, medicines for rabies etc on its website, to which Chandurkar said that the data is updated regularly.

Further, the bench appointed senior advocate Mihir Desai as an Amicus Curaie to assist the court in the proceedings and made it clear to the State that the instant matter would be taken up regularly within 15 days and that the State must furnish all data in each hearing.

While hearing the matter, Acting Chief Justice Ghuge opined that once the authorities properly and aggressively sterilise the dogs, then major part of the problems faced by citizens due to stray dogs menace will be solved.

"Your administration must understand that if they sterilise dogs as per the program mentioned in the ABC Rules, aggressively and properly, then there will be no growth of dogs. Also, instead of catchinghold the growth of dogs you must first focus on sterilising aggressive dogs... The growth of dogs is continuing and if you stop the growth, there will be no further issue... Understand that with the growing population of dogs i.e. 4 to 5 puppies per dog, your problem is also growing... If the growth of these dogs stop by sterilization then a major part of your problem is resolved," ACJ Ghuge observed.

The bench has now adjourned the matter for further consideration, till 15 days.

Case Title: In Re Compliance With The Supreme Court Order vs State of Maharashtra (Suo Motu Writ Petition 2 of 2026)