Stray Dogs Case : Live Updates From Supreme Court Hearing

J Mehta: Who will owe responsibility when stray dog attacks someone?

A counsel: For voluntary institutions, responsibility can be fixed

J Mehta: Stray dog can't be in possession of anyone. If you want [a pet], take license.

One Kamna Pandey (a bite victim): Two decades ago I was mauled by a dog. I got stitches. I tried to understand what provoked it and found this dog was subjected to prolonged cruelty - stoning, kicking. There was defensive aggression, in response to fear. I suffered because of actions of somebody else. I adopted her. In 9 yrs, she has not bit anyone. We were able to apply this learning at Sanjay Gandhi Institute, Lucknow. Instead of just sterilization, we go for a holistic approach. When fear goes away, aggression goes away. Panic has spread - it translates into violence against dogs and feeders. Illegal relocation undertaken. We suggest creating non-confining dog homes in institutions.

A counsel: Nov 7 order should apply to rural areas also.

Billimoria: Petitions based on news reports. They do not constitute evidence

J Nath: So you want to argue that this petition should not have been registered?

Billimoria: No, we are saying reliance only on media is not correct. Several media reports have been inaccurate or combined with opinions. They create an echo chamber. Amicus Curiae is only for law. Society is divided today. There are not lovers and haters.

Sr Adv Percival Billimoria: It's nobody's case that dogs should be on streets. Why are they on streets? Because ABC has not been conducted in an effective manner. A PIB report on 1 April 2025 says intensive implementation of ABC programme is the only rational and scientific solution to overpopulation of street dogs. This is the view of GoI. Why has ABC not worked - handling of ABC, under capacity, corruption

Bench: Tell us something new, this has been argued

Billimoria: There's no census. How does one know the population?

Bench: Also argued

Billimoria: We suggest appointing of a Committee chaired by ld. AG. Terms of reference should include census of stray dogs. We cite scientific studies of Rajasthan cities, where population of stray dogs has come down

J Mehta: How do you arrive at that figure when there has been no census? Totally unrealistic.

Guruswamy: Killing dogs does not work as well as sterilization. There's under-utilization of funds by centres. ABC Rules are not just about birth control. They are an effort against confinement of animals. Legislature realizes that culling has failed. When we talk of removing a species, we are doing something to us. We cannot be in short supply of compassion. No argument allows for cruelty and culling.

J Nath: For every dog bite, death or injury caused to children or elderly, we are likely going to fix heavy compensation by state, for not doing anything. Also, liability and accountability on those who are saying we are feedings dogs. Do it, take them to your house. Why should dogs be littering around, biting, scaring people?

Sr Adv Menaka Guruswamy (for 2 animal trusts/shelters): This is an emotional matter

J Mehta: Emotions so far seem to be only for dogs

Guruswamy: That's not the case. I am equally concerned about humans

J Mehta: Thankfully!

Guruswamy produces certain Parliamentary debates

J Mehta: MPs are an elite class

J Nath: Ms. Guruswamy, all of you allow us to take to task the authorities, so that we can set process in motion. Everyone repeating same thing. Allow us to pass an order. We have to spend half day calling on authorities' response. Problem has multiplied 1000 times because of their inaction!

J Mehta: This has become a public platform, rather than a court proceeding.

Sr Adv Vikas Singh (for an animal welfare trust): please see it as an animal v. human issue...more than 50000 people died in 2025 due to snake bites...dogs are important for rodent control...your lordships have to balance the ecosystem. Biting is one part of dogs issue. Their role in ecosystem must be considered.

Sr Adv Pinky Anand: There has been violence but provisions provide that animals must be treated with compassion. We were able to eradicate TB through policies...we didn't eradicate the people with TB! We have only 77 ABC Centres today. If dogs are not replaced back, more ferocious dogs will come. There should be accountability

J Mehta: Who should be held accountable when dogs attack a 9 yr old? The organization that is feeding them? You want us to shut our eyes to the problem.

Datar: Please extend the order to airports. Airport says it cannot do anything, if we complaint, because impression is dogs would have to be released back

J Mehta: Now we have a case for courts also, after Gujarat HC incident. Worst part is - when municipal authorities went to capture, they were attacked by lawyers! So called dog lovers

Datar: Danger of attack by dogs is not addressed by ABC rules. they are for birth control. In Ladakh, there was a writ petition...only Maharashtra has said forest ranger can kill the dogs if it's attacking endangered wildlife

J Mehta: Dogs carry a certain virus...tigers which attacked dogs in Ranthambore were infected with an incurable disease.

Datar: Non pet animals under ABC rules include street dogs, community owned Indian dogs, abandoned pedigree dogs - all homeless..."living on the street or who are within a gated campus"...if a street dog lives in a gated campus, it remains a street dog...it does not gain a right to stay there. Rule 7 is only classification...

J Mehta: Suppose there's an RWA, 95% do not desire presence of dogs...whether desire of 5% should continue? What will weigh?

Datar: This is not about majority. Even if 99 say dog should be there, 1 can object...even in ordinary roads, we are not able to walk before sunrise! Premises within hospital, railway station cannot be treated as open space...Dogs attacking deers [in Madras]...they had to be removed...people can go to institutions to attend something, visit somebody but not...

J Mehta: But not to feed dogs.