Supreme Court Upholds Stray Dog SOP, Says Citizens Have Right To Safe Public Spaces
Supreme Court Upholds Stray Dog SOP, Says Citizens Have Right To Safe Public Spaces
New Delhi, May 19, 2026: The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday dismissed petitions challenging the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued for managing stray dogs, reaffirming that citizens have the right to move freely and safely in public spaces.
The court was hearing applications opposing the SOP framed by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) following earlier directions issued by the apex court in connection with the stray dog issue.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta refused to interfere with the SOP issued on November 27, 2025, observing that the challenges raised against it were without merit.
In its order, the bench stated that the court could not ignore the serious and disturbing ground realities emerging from different parts of the country regarding the growing stray dog menace.
The court noted that all objections claiming the SOP exceeded jurisdiction or conflicted with existing laws were not sustainable, leading to the dismissal of all applications challenging its validity.
Earlier, on November 7, 2025, the Supreme Court had directed all states and Union Territories to remove stray dogs from sensitive public locations such as schools, hospitals, sports complexes, bus depots and railway stations. The court had ordered that the animals be shifted to designated shelters after sterilisation and vaccination in accordance with the Animal Birth Control Rules.
The ruling is expected to strengthen implementation of stray dog management measures by civic authorities and state governments across the country.
