DU Law's Animal Law Cell Submits Before Supreme Court On Stray Dog Relocation, Urges Implementation Of ABC Rules
The Animal Law Cell, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, filed an impleadment application and made submissions before the Supreme Court of India on January 8, 2026, regarding the relocation of stray dogs from institutional premises. The submissions were represented by Senior Advocate Chander Uday Singh and Advocate Vivek Sibal. The hearing was before a Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria.
During the hearing, the Faculty argued that directions to remove and relocate stray dogs conflict with existing statutory frameworks and overlook infrastructural realities. Senior Advocate Chander Uday Singh highlighted that the Faculty of Law has had an Animal Law Cell since 2022, with three professors actively researching urban animal management. He emphasized that abrupt removal creates a “vacuum effect,” where other dogs move into the area, a phenomenon supported by scientific studies, underscoring the need for research-based strategies rather than ad hoc removal.
He further added that stray dogs help maintain ecological balance, particularly in areas with monkeys and rodents, and overcrowding in shelters could exacerbate disease spread. “The fact that States have violated rules or orders should not result in jettisoning the Rules,” he noted.
Advocate Vivek Sibal, representing the students, added, “We have been sterilising dogs at our own expense—removing them temporarily, vaccinating and sterilising them, and then bringing them back. There has been no dog-bite incident on campus in the past ten years, and we have effectively controlled the situation.” He suggested that institutions themselves could set up animal law cells, vaccinate and sterilise dogs, rather than relying solely on relocation. “We don't want dogs roaming around in hospitals. But if the hospital administration is tasked to set up the same thing these students have done in DU, there may be some relief.” he added.
In its application, the Animal Law Cell presented its campus as a case study for effective implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules. Out of 49 community dogs on campus, 28 have been sterilised. The Dog Census conducted by the Cell demonstrates that scientific population control and coexistence are viable alternatives to mass removal.
Prof. (Dr.) Sunanda Bharti, Convener of the Animal Law Cell, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, stated, “In a civil society, every person must have the ability to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. We must stop treating animals as disposables, unmute their voices, strengthen their rights, build awareness on the ground, and allow compassion to guide our actions. This is precisely why we have approached the Hon'ble Supreme Court.”
She further added, “There was absolutely no need to reinvent the wheel, which the order dated 7 November 2025 now seeks to do. The Animal Birth Control Rules not only exist but are proven to work across the globe. Animals, including dogs coexisting within institutional spaces, should not be treated as exceptions. Capture, vaccinate, sterilise, and release must remain the norm. Civic bodies must now ensure strict compliance, while also safeguarding the well-being of dogs.”
Mr. Ankur Arora, Founder of the Animal Law Cell and a final-year law student, stated, “Dogs have been part of the Faculty of Law campus for years, freely roaming without disturbing anyone. Notably, there has been no dog-bite incident in the past decade.”
He further added, “Through documentary screenings, expert sessions, and census drives, we have been raising awareness and promoting the ABC Rules, 2023. Delhi University campuses demonstrate that coexistence works, and removing stray dogs is not the solution. While laws exist — Pet Shop Rules, Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules, ABC Rules, Transport Rules, and more — most are not implemented seriously, leading to real-world consequences. Rather than punishing animals, focus must be on consistent and streamlined implementation, which will also help address population control and prevent dog-bite incidents.”
The Animal Law Cell continues to engage with questions at the intersection of law, policy, and animal welfare through sustained academic and on-ground initiatives. In this backdrop, the Cell has placed its Annual Report, along with reflections by faculty members and students on the recent order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court concerning the removal of stray dogs from educational institutions, in the public domain. These materials seek to document the Cell's work and contribute to informed discourse on the evolving legal framework governing animal welfare in India.
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