Court Orders Removal of Stray Dogs in Delhi Amid Rising Rabies Cases

India’s Supreme Court has directed authorities in the capital to remove tens of thousands of stray dogs from the streets, citing growing public safety concerns following a spike in dog bite incidents.

Delhi is estimated to have at least 60,000 stray dogs, according to the last official Livestock Census in 2012, though experts believe the figure has risen significantly. Packs of dogs are now a common sight in residential areas and public parks.

The World Health Organization estimates that India accounts for over one-third of global rabies deaths, a crisis worsened by inadequate sterilisation efforts and legal limits on culling.

In its ruling on Monday, the court gave the city eight weeks to set up dog shelters and mandated strict record-keeping for all captured animals. “Not a single stray dog should be released,” the court stated, applying the order to Delhi and its surrounding suburbs, home to around 30 million people.

Authorities were also told to launch a 24-hour helpline for reporting dog bites and to publicise the locations where anti-rabies vaccines are available.

Government data shows that India recorded more than 3.7 million dog bite cases and 54 suspected rabies deaths in 2024, though independent estimates suggest