The Supreme Court is set to issue critical directions regulating stray dog feeding in government premises, marking another significant step in balancing animal welfare with public safety concerns. The three-judge bench, led by Justice Vikram Nath along with Justices Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria, announced that guidelines specifically targeting government and public sector institutions where employees feed stray canines will be issued within a few days, with the order scheduled for November 7.
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Supreme Court Key Case Information at a Glance
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Bench | Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta, Justice N.V. Anjaria |
| Order Date | November 7, 2025 |
| Scope | Government, PSU, and large institutional premises |
| Case Origin | Suo moto cognizance taken in July 2024 following reports of stray dog attacks in Delhi-NCR |
| Current Status | Chief secretaries of all states/UTs (except West Bengal and Telangana) appeared before the court |
Why This Matters Now
The Court observed that government employees supporting and encouraging dogs in institutional premises have led to complaints and safety concerns. This development comes after the Supreme Court criticized states and Union Territories for failing to comply with previous directions, noting that stray dog attack incidents were being used to tarnish India’s global image.
The case evolved from an August 11 order that initially directed authorities to permanently shelter all stray dogs within eight weeks—a move criticized by animal rights organizations as too harsh and impractical. The three-judge bench later modified this on August 22, staying the directive and ruling that stray dogs should be released after undergoing sterilization, deworming, and vaccination.
What’s Already Been Decided
The Court prohibited public feeding of stray dogs on streets and mandated that each municipal authority create dedicated feeding spaces in every ward with notice boards clearly stating that feeding is allowed only in designated areas. Additionally, the Court required individuals to deposit Rs 25,000 and NGOs to deposit Rs 2 lakh with the court registry before being allowed to intervene in the matter.
The Court also impleaded the Animal Welfare Board of India as a respondent, expanding the scope of responsibility for ensuring adherence to statutory animal welfare norms.
The Balancing Act
While emphasizing that public safety is paramount, the Court stressed the need for a holistic approach that balances human concerns with animal welfare, noting that compassion for animals is part of Indian law but citizen safety—particularly of children, elderly, and visually impaired persons—cannot be compromised.
The upcoming guidelines for government premises will likely address concerns raised by Senior advocate Karuna Nundy, who pointed out flaws in Delhi’s municipal authorities’ designated feeding areas, arguing they failed to balance compassion for animals with public safety.
For more information on animal welfare regulations, visit the Animal Welfare Board of India’s official website. You can also explore other legal developments affecting governance and public policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Will the new guidelines ban feeding stray dogs in government offices completely?
The Court hasn’t indicated a complete ban but will issue specific regulations on how and where feeding can occur in government and institutional premises. The focus appears to be on creating structured protocols rather than prohibition, similar to the designated feeding zones already mandated for municipal areas.
Q2: What happens if someone violates the feeding guidelines?
The Court has stated that persons found feeding dogs in violation of directions shall be liable to action under the relevant legal framework. Specific penalties will likely be clarified in the upcoming November 7 order, which should provide detailed enforcement mechanisms for government premises.
