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Delhi High Court Demands Overhaul of Stray Dog Rehabilitation in City
6 Aug
Summary
- Delhi High Court stresses need to rehabilitate stray dogs
- Calls for coordinated efforts to remove strays from streets
- Criticizes ineffective sterilization program as "not the solution"
On August 7th, 2025, the Delhi High Court emphasized the pressing need to rehabilitate stray dogs in the city and minimize human-animal conflict. Justice Mini Pushkarna, who was hearing a matter related to the rehabilitation of strays, directed the chief secretary to convene a meeting of all stakeholders to discuss steps for removing the dogs from the streets and providing them with proper shelter.
The court stressed that "dogs are the most loved animals of the world" and should be treated with dignity, stating that they should either be at home or in a shelter, not roaming the streets and scavenging for food. The bench noted that the current situation is detrimental to both humans and the dogs, as neither are safe.
The court also underlined that the sterilization program, which was "touted for decades" as the solution, has not been effective in addressing the issue. It called for measures beyond just sterilization to tackle the problem of stray dogs in the city.
The hearing also revealed that around 200 animals previously sent to a shelter home were about to be released back onto the streets, as the temporary facility was scheduled for demolition by the municipal corporation. The court expressed concern over the lack of functional animal birth control centers and operational veterinary hospitals in the city.
Emphasizing the "magnanimity of the problem" faced by the public, the court referred the matter to the chief secretary and called for coordinated efforts by the Delhi government, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and the Animal Welfare Board of India to formulate a comprehensive policy for the rehabilitation of stray dogs in the city.
