Saralnama
India's Supreme Court has suspended its earlier order to permanently relocate stray dogs from Delhi's streets to shelters, instead endorsing a more holistic approach involving sterilisation, vaccination, deworming, and returning dogs to their original localities. Only dogs exhibiting aggression or rabies symptoms are to be kept in shelters. The court also directed municipal authorities to establish designated feeding areas to safely feed and monitor stray dogs. This revised ruling aligns with the Animal Birth Control Rules and reflects longstanding animal welfare principles upheld by the court since 2009. Delhi, home to an estimated one million stray dogs, has seen tensions between public safety concerns and animal rights advocates. The new approach aims to balance public health, given India's high rabies incidence, with community bonds between residents and street dogs. The decision was welcomed by animal welfare groups and political leaders, including opposition figure Rahul Gandhi, as a progressive step. The court's order extends beyond Delhi to a nationwide policy, emphasizing humane treatment and community integration of stray dogs while addressing public safety risks. (Updated 22 Aug 2025, 18:49 IST; source: link)