Stray Dogs Case: Supreme Court reserves verdict after hearing all states

January 29, 2026

The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its judgment on petitions seeking modifications to its earlier orders in the stray dog ​​case. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria reserved its decision after hearing arguments from amicus curiae Gaurav Agarwal. He apprised the Supreme Court of the steps taken by states such as Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

The bench also heard arguments from the lawyer representing the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) regarding compliance with the November 7, 2025 order, which directed the authority to remove stray animals from national highways and install fencing along the roadsides.

What did the Court tell the AWBI?
The top court directed the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to process applications from NGOs seeking permission to open animal shelters or Animal Birth Control (ABC) centers. The bench told the AWBI’s lawyer, “Either accept or reject the applications, but do it expeditiously.” The lawyer informed the court that the number of such applications from various organizations had increased significantly after the November 7 order. The Supreme Court asked all parties to file their written submissions in the matter as soon as possible.

Court expresses displeasure over states’ non-compliance
Earlier on Wednesday, the top court expressed strong displeasure over several states’ failure to sterilize stray dogs, establish dog pounds, and remove dogs from the premises of educational and other institutions. The bench remarked, “They are all building castles in the air.” The Supreme Court also heard arguments on the states’ compliance with its previous directions and expressed dissatisfaction. The bench said it felt like they were listening to stories.

Court expresses surprise at Assam’s data
The court expressed surprise at the data related to Assam. The top court noted that the state reported 1.66 lakh cases of dog bites in 2024, while it has only one dog center. The court also stated that 20,900 people were bitten by dogs in January 2025 alone, which is extremely worrying.