JUDICIAL INTERVENTION, HUMAN SAFETY AND ANIMAL WELFARE: A LEGAL AND POLICY ANALYSIS OF THE SUPREME COURT'S STRAY DOG RELOCATION ORDER 2025

Abstract

Supreme Court of India’s order 2025 on stray dogs’ relocation in the Delhi-NCR due to increase in dog bite incidents and public safety concerns over rabies directly contradicts with the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 and is practically not possible to be implemented within existing infrastructure. Balancing interests of animals and humans is a shared responsibility inviting long term solutions rather than overnight removals while avoiding vacuum effect and zoonotic diseases. A holistic approach addressing human health and public safety issues vis-a-vis animal-human conflict should pave the way forward. No system can be effective unless frictions are minimised. This paper is an attempt to invite attention to the constitutional protection given to non-humans and to further explore and analyse the legal and societal validity of the Supreme Court’s directives while balancing the interests involved by reducing the conflict and removing the impediments.