Supreme Court Flags Stray Dogs in Schools, Hospitals as Safety Risk

The Supreme Court on Tuesday highlighted the dangers posed by stray dogs in institutional areas such as schools, hospitals, and courts, observing that no one can predict a dog’s mood to bite. Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta emphasized that the threat is not limited to bites but includes accidents and other risks, stressing that prevention is more effective than cure. The bench reiterated that culling is not a permissible solution under existing laws.

The court flagged administrative lapses as a key reason for dog-related incidents in institutional spaces, pointing to systemic failures in securing these premises. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal noted that the Animal Welfare Board of India’s standard operating procedure contradicts the Animal Birth Control rules, allowing overcrowding in shelters, mixing of rabies-infected and healthy dogs, and violation of sterilization and vaccination protocols. The court asked for a detailed clause-by-clause review of the SOP rather than broad allegations.

Clarifying that the modified order applies only to institutional areas and not public roads, the bench reiterated that stray dogs should not be present inside schools, hospitals, or court premises. It directed that dogs be relocated to designated shelters following sterilization and vaccination, and those removed from institutions should be returned to the same location, ensuring public safety while adhering to animal welfare laws.

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