**Title:** Supreme Court Orders Removal of Stray Dogs in Delhi for Public Safety
**Meta Description:** The Supreme Court of India mandates the removal of stray dogs from Delhi streets to address rising dog-bite incidents and public health concerns.
**URL Slug:** supreme-court-stray-dogs-delhi-removal
**Headline:** Supreme Court Directs Immediate Removal of Stray Dogs from Delhi Streets Amid Rising Safety Concerns
On Monday, the Supreme Court of India issued a directive for the removal of all stray dogs from the streets of the national capital region, mandating their relocation to shelters within a timeframe of six to eight weeks. This decision comes in response to escalating public safety concerns linked to an increase in dog-bite incidents, which have significant implications for public health.
The court highlighted the alarming rise in dog-bite cases, noting that India reports hundreds of thousands of such incidents annually. The statistics reveal a troubling trend: from 7.57 million cases in 2018, the number fell to 2.19 million in 2022 during the pandemic, only to rebound to over 3.7 million in 2024. In January of this year alone, there were more than 429,000 reported cases nationwide.
Maharashtra recorded the highest number of dog bites in January 2025, with 56,538 cases, followed closely by Gujarat with 53,942 cases. Other states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Bihar reported significant numbers as well, with the national capital itself seeing 3,196 cases in the same month.
The rise in dog-bite incidents has also led to an increase in rabies-related fatalities. In 2022, there were 21 deaths attributed to rabies from dog bites, which surged to 50 in 2023 and reached 54 in 2024. This year, one death has already been reported, including the tragic case of a state-level Kabaddi player from Uttar Pradesh who succumbed to rabies after being bitten by a stray dog he had rescued.
In response to these public health challenges, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been actively funding states and Union Territories to procure Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) and Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) since the 2020-21 fiscal year. These vaccines are provided free of charge at government hospitals, medical colleges, and anti-rabies clinics. The government has allocated substantial funds for this initiative, with expenditures of Rs 68.86 crore in FY21, Rs 62.33 crore in FY22, Rs 98.75 crore in FY23, and Rs 99.77 crore in FY24.
Over the past five years, the number of anti-rabies vaccine doses approved under the Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases program has seen fluctuations. The approval of doses rose from 2.56 million in 2020-21 to 4.17 million in 2021-22, dipped to 1.84 million in 2022-23, but surged again to 6.45 million in 2023-24, with the highest allocation of 8.02 million doses recorded for 2024-25. In total, 23.05 million doses have been approved in the last five years.
As the Supreme Court’s order takes effect, the focus will be on ensuring public safety while addressing the welfare of stray animals in the capital.
**FAQ:**
**Q: What measures are being taken to address the stray dog issue in Delhi?**
A: The Supreme Court has ordered the removal of stray dogs from Delhi streets to shelters within six to eight weeks, citing public safety concerns due to rising dog-bite incidents.