Delhi High Court orders the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to hold vaccination and sterilization camps in every ward across the capital. The Bench of Justice Dinesh Mehta and Justice Rajneesh Kumar Gupta issued this directive in a suo motu public interest litigation case focused on the management of stray dogs. The court emphasized that these camps will be treated as pilot projects, requiring prior publicity to clarify that the animals are not being captured for relocation to pounds, but are being brought in solely for medical procedures.
The judges suggested starting the process in areas with high foot traffic, specifically mentioning wards near Connaught Place and India Gate. The court wants to demonstrate that a society can manage its dog population without resorting to mass culling. To ensure transparency, the court requested the authorities to identify one ward and a “worst area” within that zone to demonstrate that every dog there has been sterilized.
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One judge mentioned that dog bites are a harsh reality and noted that he had been bitten twice. They also pointed to a broader ecological concern, questioning the dwindling population of sparrows and crows in the city. The bench expressed a firm stance against the complete removal of the stray dog population. They argued that a certain percentage must remain for future generations to prevent the neighborhood from feeling empty. The court specifically rejected the argument that dogs might face extinction, stating that the German Shepherd population would likely persist regardless of the sterilization efforts.
The judges asked if it made sense to sterilize both genders or if focusing on females would be more effective, given that female dogs are usually the ones initiating contact that leads to bites.
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The counsel for the MCD claimed that the dog population was already being managed effectively. The court was informed that there are 12 zones in Delhi and that staff numbers at the centers are sufficient. However, the exact number of dogs in the city remains an estimate of around 8 lakh. When asked about the ratio of male to female dogs, the counsel explained the standard process: dogs exhibiting symptoms of rabies are placed in observation for 10 to 15 days before being released if the veterinarian finds no concern.
The next hearing is scheduled for September 1. The order mandates that an affidavit be submitted to confirm that the camps will be conducted with wide publicity and that the message about the dogs’ destination is clear to the public. This legal intervention follows previous Supreme Court directions that shifted the focus from rounding up dogs to vaccination and sterilization in accordance with Animal Birth Control Rules.
