The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday issued an order directing authorities to pick up all stray dogs in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) within eight weeks.

According to the SC's order, all the dogs should be housed in dedicated shelters, which will be created by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). NCT Delhi, MCD, and NDMC must start picking up stray dogs immediately, especially from vulnerable areas and cities.

MCD, NDMC, and authorities in Noida and Gurugram are asked to maintain daily records of the number of stray dogs captured and held, Bar and Bench reported.

Removing stray dogs from all localities is the top priority, and no compromise will be allowed, the top court said. According to the SC ruling, strict action would be taken against any individual or organisation trying to prevent the drive.

The court instructed the authorities to ensure that adequate shelter facilities are created within the stipulated time frame, ensuring that the canines are removed from public spaces. The SC has also asked the authorities to update the court with a report on dog shelters within eight weeks.

The apex court instructed municipal bodies and other agencies to ensure that none of the dogs placed in dedicated shelters are released onto the streets again. The court allowed authorities to form special teams or forces if needed to do this efficiently.

According to the ruling, these shelters need enough staff to sterilise and vaccinate the dogs. Each shelter should have CCTV monitoring to ensure no dogs are released without permission.

Authorities are also asked to create a helpline within one week to report dog bites immediately. On receiving a complaint, dogs must be captured within four hours. The SC said that the availability of the rabies vaccine is a serious concern. Delhi government must provide detailed information on vaccine stock, locations, and monthly patient data, it added.

The court has asked authorities to submit a status report on the progress of the drive within six weeks.

According to a nationwide study by the Indian Council of Medical Research–National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE), over 5,700 people die in India every year due to rabies. The survey, conducted across 60 districts and 15 states, found that nearly 9.1 million animal bites occur each year, with children under 14 and the elderly most frequently affected.

Another study by the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare showed that incidents of dog bites in India increased by nearly 70 per cent between 2022 and 2024.