'Persistence Of Stray Dogs Imperils Public Safety' : Supreme Court Flags "Dog Bite Menace", Says Children & Poor Worst Affected

The Supreme Court has expressed grave concern over the rising number of stray dog attacks across India, observing that the persistence of the stray dog population has continued to imperil public safety. The Court noted that repeated incidents of dog bites, particularly in educational institutions, hospitals, transport hubs, and other public spaces, highlight serious administrative lapses and a systemic failure to secure citizens' right to safety under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Referring to multiple media reports, the Bench said it had been apprised of an “alarming increase” in dog-bite incidents in schools, hospitals, railway stations, and sports complexes. The Court mentioned instances of children being attacked in school campuses, patients and attendants bitten within hospital compounds, and even athletes and officials attacked inside sports stadiums.

“The recurrence of such incidents, particularly within institutional spaces meant for learning, healing, and recreation, reflects not only administrative apathy but also a systemic failure to secure these premises from preventable hazards,” the Court observed, adding that the situation warranted “immediate judicial intervention” to safeguard citizens' right to life and safety.

The Court noted that over 90% of human cases resulting from bites inflicted by domestic or stray dogs. "The brunt of this menace has been borne by children, elderly people and economically weaker sections who in addition of being vulnerable, also lack timely access to post- exposure prophylaxis," the Court said.

Foreign Nationals Attacked; Global Image Affected

The Bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice NV Anjaria also cited a report by NDTV highlighting how even foreign nationals have fallen prey to stray dog attacks, including a Welsh entrepreneur who was bitten during a morning run in Bengaluru. “This incident underscores that the menace is neither confined to rural or densely populated areas nor limited to vulnerable citizens but has assumed proportions affecting public safety, tourism, and the image of the country in the global perspective,” the Court said.

Stray Dogs In Educational And Healthcare Institutions

Expressing concern over recurring dog-bite incidents in schools and colleges, the Court pointed out that educational institutions, particularly those with open campuses, have become vulnerable spaces. “Children, due to their small stature and uninformed interaction with animals, are extra vulnerable,” it observed, citing reports of grievous injuries that required surgical reconstruction and emergency rabies treatment.

The Bench specifically mentioned the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, where a large stray population reportedly threatens the safety of students, staff, and faculty.

Similarly, hospitals, which are entrusted with treating dog-bite victims, have also become unsafe. The Court referred to incidents at the Institute of Mental Health, Chennai, where multiple patients were bitten within days, and at the Ernakulam General Hospital, Kochi, where a stray dog attacked five people, including a patient inside the hospital. Improper waste disposal practices and open hospital spaces attracting strays were identified as contributing factors.

Implementation Failure Of Animal Birth Control Rules

The Court recalled that the Government of India had introduced the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2001 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, establishing the Capture-Sterilize-Vaccinate-Release (CSVR) model to control the stray dog population. The framework prohibits indiscriminate culling and mandates sterilisation, vaccination, and sheltering in coordination with animal welfare organisations.

However, the Supreme Court lamented that implementation of these rules has been “ineffective to say the least,” with the persistence of stray populations continuing to endanger public safety in several parts of the country.  

Public Safety And State Obligation

Terming the menace of dog bites “not merely a public-health challenge but a matter of human safety concern,” the Court held that the State and its instrumentalities bear an affirmative duty to ensure that citizens, especially children, elderly people, and patients, are not exposed to preventable injury or disease in public premises.

It observed that “spaces of learning, healing, and recreation” such as schools, hospitals, universities, and sports complexes must be protected from such avoidable hazards, reiterating that the failure to do so amounts to a violation of the fundamental right to life and safety.

Direction To Remove Dogs From Institutional Premises

In view of the mounting incidents and administrative inaction, the Supreme Court directed authorities to remove stray dogs from the premises of schools, hospitals, railway stations, and other institutional areas, stressing that public safety must take precedence within such controlled environments.

“The persistence of stray dog population has continued to imperil public safety in many parts of the country,” the Court stated, urging coordinated efforts by municipal bodies and state authorities to enforce sterilisation, vaccination, and sheltering measures effectively.

The directions are as follows :

Having regard to the alarming rise in incidents of dog bites within institutional areas such as educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands/depots (including Inter-State Bus Terminals) and railway stations, this Court deems it appropriate to issue the following directions in the interest of public safety, health, and management of stray dogs: -

A. The State Governments and Union Territories shall through their respective local/ municipal authorities, within a period of two weeks, identify all Government and private educational institutions, hospitals (including district hospitals, primary health centres, and medical colleges), public sports complexes or stadia, bus stands/depots (including Inter-State Bus Terminals) and railway stations situated within their territorial limits.

B. The administrative heads of the aforesaid institutions shall through their respective local/ municipal authorities, under the overall supervision of the District Magistrate concerned, ensure that the premises are secured by adequate fencing, boundary walls, gates and such other structural or administrative measures as may be necessary to prevent the ingress of stray dogs. The said exercise shall be completed as soon as possible and preferably within a period of 8 weeks from today.

C. The management of every educational institution, hospital, sports complex, bus stand/depot (including Inter-State Bus Terminal) and railway station identified under Direction (A) shall designate a Nodal Officer responsible for the upkeep and cleanliness of the premises and for ensuring that stray dogs do not enter or inhabit the campus. The details of the said officer shall be displayed prominently at the entrance and notified to the jurisdictional municipal body/authority.

D. The local municipal authorities and panchayats shall carry out regular inspections, at least once in every three months, of all such premises to ensure that no stray dog habitats exist within or in the immediate vicinity of these institutions. Any lapse in this regard shall be viewed seriously, and responsibility shall be fixed upon the concerned municipal officials/administrative authorities.

E. It shall be the responsibility of the jurisdictional municipal body/authority to forthwith remove every stray dog found within the premises of an educational institution, hospital (public or private), sports complex, bus stand/depot (including Inter-State Bus Terminal) or railway station and to shift such animal/s to a designated shelter, after due sterilisation and vaccination, in accordance with the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023. The stray dogs so picked up shall not be released back to the same location from which they were picked up. We have consciously directed the non-release of such stray dogs to the same location from which they were picked up, as permitting the same would frustrate the very effect of the directions issued to liberate such institutional areas from the presence of stray dogs.

F. All Government and private hospitals shall maintain a mandatory stock of anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulin at all times.

G. Every school and educational institution shall be directed by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, to conduct awareness sessions for students and staff on preventive behaviour around animals, first-aid in case of bites, and immediate reporting protocols.

H. The management of stadiums and sports complexes shall ensure the deployment of security or ground-keeping personnel specifically tasked with around the clock vigil against the entry or habitation of stray dogs.

I. The railway authorities having jurisdiction over the railway stations as well as the State transport corporations and municipal authorities having jurisdiction over bus stands, depots and Inter- State Bus Terminals, shall ensure that such public-transport premises/facilities are effectively secured and maintained so as to prevent the habitation or movement of stray dogs within their premises. Proper waste-management systems shall be implemented to eliminate food sources that attract animals, and regular inspections shall be conducted to detect and address the presence of stray dogs.

J. Animal Welfare Board of India shall, within four weeks, issue detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for prevention of dog bites and management of stray dogs in institutional premises (public or private) including but not limited to Government and private educational institutions, hospitals (including district hospitals, primary health centres, and medical colleges), and sports complexes or stadia, to be uniformly adopted across all States and Union Territories.

Also from the order - Supreme Court Orders Removal Of All Stray Animals From Highways Across India; Directs Their Relocation To Shelters

Case Title: IN RE : 'CITY HOUNDED BY STRAYS, KIDS PAY PRICE', SMW(C) No. 5/2025