The Delhi High Court has emphasised the urgent need to rehabilitate stray dogs and minimise human-animal conflict, noting that “dogs are the most loved animals of the world” and should be treated with dignity, not left to scavenge on the streets.
Justice Mini Pushkarna, presiding over the matter, expressed concern that neither dogs nor humans were safe in the capital’s current environment, and stressed that measures must go beyond sterilisation, which she described as ineffective despite being touted for decades.
“It should be ensured that dogs are protected and have to be given dignity,” the court added, calling for compassionate yet practical steps by all stakeholders.
The court observed that dogs should either be kept at home or in shelter, not on the roads “eating garbage”. “Humans and dogs both are suffering. Neither humans are safe, nor dogs. Dogs are loved animals,” the judge remarked.
Justice Pushkarna criticised the longstanding sterilisation policy, stating, “Sterilisation isn’t working at all. It’s not the solution.” The comment came after it was suggested in court that sterilising 70 per cent of the stray dog population could address the problem.
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The court was further informed that around 200 stray dogs, temporarily sheltered by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), may soon be released back onto the roads as the facility housing them is slated for demolition.
Noting the gravity of the situation, the judge highlighted that many animal birth control (ABC) centres were non-functional and that 78 veterinary hospitals were reportedly not operational in the city.
Describing the lack of progress as symptomatic of broader administrative inaction, the court observed that the only proposal discussed at a recent meeting chaired by the Delhi chief secretary was, again, sterilisation.
Earlier, the High Court had referred the matter to the Delhi chief secretary, noting the “magnanimity of the problem” and calling for coordinated efforts from the Delhi government, MCD, and the Animal Welfare Board of India.
The court reiterated its directive for an institutional-level policy for the rehabilitation of stray dogs and asked the chief secretary to convene a meeting of all stakeholders to frame concrete action steps.
The case has now been posted for hearing on September 17.
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