Supreme Court Sounds Alarm on Stray Dog Crisis: Rising Bite Cases Spark Urgent Action
On July 28, 2025, the Supreme Court of India took suo motu cognisance of the alarming rise in stray dog bite cases, especially in Delhi, where hundreds of incidents are reported daily, in a landmark decision addressing a deteriorating public health crisis. The court, presided over by Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, was prompted by a Times of India article titled “City hounded by strays and kids pay price.” The court characterized the situation as “deeply disturbing” and “extremely concerning,” emphasizing the devastating toll that rabies infections have taken on infants, children, and the elderly. The judiciary’s intervention in India’s fight against this growing threat inspires hope for a fair resolution and calls for action to save lives while upholding animal welfare.
The court is concerned about alarming statistics: according to Minister of State for Animal Husbandry SP Singh Baghel, who spoke in Parliament on July 22, 2025, there were over 37.17 lakh dog bite cases nationwide in 2024, with 54 rabies-related deaths. According to Bhaskar English, incidents in Delhi alone increased by 143% from 2023 to 2024, with 5.19 lakh cases involving children under the age of 15. The severity of the situation was highlighted by a tragic case in Delhi’s Pooth Kalan, where six-year-old Chhavi Sharma died of rabies on July 26 following a dog bite. In an indication of a strong judicial response, the Supreme Court instructed its registry to file a public interest litigation (PIL) and refer it to Chief Justice Bhushan R. Gavai for additional action.
The bench highlighted the civic authorities’ inability to control the number of stray dogs, pointing out insufficient efforts to vaccinate and sterilize them. Implementation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960’s Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, which require anti-rabies vaccination and neutering, is slow. According to a 2022–2023 ICMR-NIE study, India accounts for 36% of all rabies deaths worldwide, with an estimated 5,700 yearly rabies deaths and 9 million animal bite cases. Since unvaccinated strays continue to be a deadly threat, especially to vulnerable groups, the court’s order is urgent.
Action is demanded by public opinion, which is reflected on X. Karti Chidambaram, a Congress MP, referred to the problem as a “serious health and safety problem” and urged the implementation of a national shelter-building policy. Prior decisions by the Supreme Court, such as its order in April 2024 to follow the ABC Rules, 2023, emphasized striking a balance between animal rights and human safety. As @JaiveerShergill on X points out, on July 15, 2025, the court issued a warning against feeding strays in public areas, emphasizing the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. However, difficulties still exist; as evidenced by hearings in 2022, municipalities are finding it difficult to carry out sterilization programs in the face of growing stray populations driven by unchecked trash.
The Supreme Court’s intervention is a clear call for coordinated action as India deals with this crisis. In line with WHO objectives, it calls on communities, civic organizations, and legislators to expedite rabies prevention, immunization, and shelter programs in order to reduce the disease by 2030. This is a test of India’s dedication to safety and compassion for all of its citizens, not just a public health concern.
