The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday, 6 January 2026, observed that it is impossible to predict an animal’s behaviour when it is in a “mood to bite,” while hearing a matter related to stray dogs. The court questioned why stray dogs should be present inside sensitive premises such as courts, schools, and hospitals, and asked what objection could exist to removing them from such institutional areas.
A three-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N V Anjaria clarified that its modified order was restricted to institutional areas and would not apply to public roads.
Emphasising the need for preventive measures, the bench noted the difficulty in identifying dangerous dogs based on behaviour alone, particularly in the context of managing stray dog populations on roads and streets.
“It’s just not just about biting; but also the threat caused by dogs. Of accidents. How can you identify? Which dog is in what mood in the morning, you don’t know,” Justice Vikram Nath observed.
Justice Sandeep Mehta drew a distinction between streets and institutional spaces, questioning the need for dogs inside court premises, schools, and hospitals. He remarked that institutions are not streets and must be kept safe.
The court also referred to its earlier order passed in November 2025, when it took note of an “alarming rise” in dog bite incidents within institutional areas such as educational institutions, hospitals, and railway stations. At that time, the apex court had directed authorities to relocate stray dogs to designated shelters after due sterilisation and vaccination.
The bench had further instructed authorities to release stray dogs back to the place from where they were picked up and had also directed the removal of cattle and other stray animals from state highways, national highways, and expressways.
However, the three-judge bench had earlier clarified that the relocation directive would not apply to dogs infected with rabies or suspected to be infected with rabies.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard the stray dog matter extensively, primarily examining the issue of stray dogs in institutional premises, with the Bench questioning whether spaces such as courts, schools and hospitals should have canine presence at all.
Read more:… pic.twitter.com/0jpXCZDyLh— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) January 7, 2026
Source: News18
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