Asserting that the right to live with dignity encompasses the right to live freely without threat from dogs, the Supreme Court rejected pleas to recall its earlier directives on the management of stray dogs, including relocation and sterilisation efforts.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria dismissed petitions that challenged the validity of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) for handling stray animals. The court also issued directions to all states, Union Territories and relevant statutory bodies, urging them to improve their infrastructure for addressing the alarming issue of stray dogs.
The bench noted a lack of consistent and systematic efforts by states and UTs in developing the necessary infrastructure to tackle the increasing number of stray dogs. The judges observed that the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme – a key component of stray dog management – has largely been inconsistent, underfunded, and uneven across different regions.
