BREAKING| Supreme Court Allows Euthanasia Of Rabid & Dangerous Dogs

In a significant order passed today, the Supreme Court allowed authorities to carry out euthanasia of rabid and dangerous dogs to curb the threat to human life.

"Authorities may, in accordance with the Animal Birth Control rules and other applicable statutory protocols, take legally permissible measures, including euthanasia in cases involving incurably ill, rabid or demonstrably dangerous/aggressive dogs to effectively cure the threat posed to human life and safety," the Court ordered.

A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice NV Anjaria passed this direction in the suo motu case taken over the stray dog menace. Referring to the "deeply disturbing" reports about the rise in dog bite cases, especially against children and older people, the Court refused to modify its earlier directions to the authorities to remove stray dogs from the premises of educational institutions, bus stands, railway stations, sports complexes, hospitals, etc.

The Court also issued a set of additional directions to ensure the implementation of its earlier directions that the dogs picked up from public places must not be returned back to the same spot after vaccination/sterilisation.

The directions issued today are as follows :

1. States and UTs to take decisive and coordinated time-bound steps for enhancing and augmenting the necessary infrastructure for the ABC framework.

2. Ensure establishment of at least one fully functional ABC centre in each district duly equipped with requisite infrastructure and trained personnel, surgical facilities and supporting logistics.

3. Having regard to population density and territorial extent of each district, a decision to be taken regarding the expansion of the number of ABC centres.

4. States and union territories shall take all necessary measures to implement the earlier directions (for removal of dogs from public places) in letter as well as in spirit without delay or dilution.

5. Authorities to take a decision on expanding this court's directions to other public spaces characterised by high footfall and public utility, including places of public congregation and transit, having regard to the necessity of ensuring a safe and secure environment for the public. Such a decision to be taken on careful assessment of the ground realities, risk to public safety and functional nature of such places.

6. Comprehensive capacity building measures to be undertaken, including training of personnel, augmenting of veterinary services, strengthening of shelter facilities, and vaccination drive in coordination with the relevant department.

7. States and UTs shall ensure adequate availability of anti-rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin in all government medical facilities and put in place an effective public Health response mechanism to deal with dog bite cases.

8. NHAI in coordination with concerned states and UTs to formulate and implement a comprehensive and time bought mechanism for addressing the presence of straid of the another animals on the national highways and expressway including deployment of specialised transport vehicles for safe handling and relocation of street cattle and another animals and the creation or earmarking of appropriate holding and shelter facilities and entering into appropriate arrangements with animal welfare organisations for the safe handling and relocation.

9. Authorities may, in accordance with the Animal Birth Control rules and other applicable statutory protocols, take legally permissible measures, including euthanasia in cases involving incurably ill, rabid or demonstrably dangerous/aggressive dogs to effectively cure the threat posed to human life and safety,

10. Concerned officers entrusted with the implementation of the directions of this court will be entitled to due protection for acts performed by them in good faith and in discharge of the official duties and compliances carried out for this and other court orders. No FIR or criminal proceeding shall be ordinary initiated against the officers in respect of bonafide action undertaken for the purpose of implementing directions of this court, except when a prima facie case of malafide and gross abuse of authority is made out.

11. For ongoing compliance and monitoring, the High Courts are directed to register suo Motu writ petitions for compliance with the directions issued by the Supreme Court as a continuing mandamus for monitoring compliance. While ensuring full compliance with the directions issued by this court the concerned bench of the high courts shall be at liberty to expand or tailor the scope of such directions as may be necessary to address local conditions and exigencies without dilututing the tenor and intent of the directions issued by this court.

The jurisdictional courts shall be empowered to take appropriate action including contempt proceedings against erring officers responsible for non compliance, inaction or willful disregard of this court's direction.

Case Title: In Re : 'City Hounded By Strays, Kids Pay Price', SMW(C) No. 5/2025 (and connected cases)