Supreme Court orders removal of stray dogs from public places; Is India facing a stray dog epidemic?

New Delhi: Expressing concern over the increasing number of stray dog attacks and related incidents in India, the Supreme Court delivered a significant ruling on Friday. The court directed all states and Union Territories (UTs) to remove stray dogs from educational institutions, hospitals, bus stands, railway stations, and sports complexes and send them to dog shelters. A bench comprising Justices Vikrant Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria stated in the order that sterilization and vaccination of all captured dogs would be mandatory. Justice Sandeep Mehta clearly stated during the ruling, "Releasing these dogs back into the same area would defeat the very purpose of the court's direction." Supreme Court Big Verdict: Remove stray dogs from schools, hospitals, bus stands, railway stations India's Growing Stray Dog Crisis This Supreme Court order comes at a time when incidents of stray dog attacks are steadily increasing in the country. According to estimates by the National Animal Welfare Board, there are approximately 15 to 20 million stray dogs in India. A large number of these live in urban areas. In the past few years, several horrific incidents of dog attacks on children and the elderly have been reported, especially in states like Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Delhi, Maharashtra, and Telangana. In some cases, these attacks have even resulted in deaths. Experts say that the growing population, garbage heaps, and urban chaos have exacerbated this crisis. Legal and Social Debate The balance between animal rights and human safety has long been a topic of debate in India. Some social organizations have welcomed the court order, calling it a "necessary step towards public safety." Meanwhile, animal rights activists are calling it "inhumane" and "overly harsh." They say that trapping dogs and placing them in shelters is not a long-term solution. The real need is for improved waste management, accelerated sterilization campaigns, and increased public awareness. SC raps states, UTs for not filing affidavits on stray dogs; Orders Chief Secretaries to appear Is This A "Stray Dog Epidemic"? The growing number of stray dogs and the increasing number of attacks in India have truly become a public health crisis. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 20,000 people die from rabies in India every year, the highest in the world. This Supreme Court order underscores the severity of this crisis. It remains to be seen how effectively state governments will implement this directive and whether it will truly control the stray dog problem in cities. The question is now being raised more strongly in India, is this merely an administrative challenge or a growing stray dog epidemic rooted in our urban policies and negligence?