India's top court orders Delhi authorities to move stray dogs to shelters

India's top court ordered authorities in the capital Delhi and its suburbs on Monday to relocate all stray dogs to shelters within eight weeks, according to the Live Law website, after media reports of a rise in cases of rabies, especially among children.

The Indian government said in April that nearly 430,000 cases of dog bites had been reported across the country in January, compared with 3.7 million cases all through 2024.

India has 52.5 million stray dogs, according to a State of Pet Homelessness survey by Mars Petcare, while 8 million homeless dogs are in shelters.

Local media reports suggest that Delhi alone has 1 million stray dogs. Reuters could not independently verify the number.

India's top court took up the case after several reports in local media of stray dogs biting children in Delhi, with some turning fatal.

On Monday, Live Law reported that the court has asked authorities in Delhi to pick up stray dogs from across the city and move them to dog shelters.

"Infants and young children, should not at any cost, fall prey to rabies. The action should inspire confidence that they can move freely without fear of being bitten by stray dogs. No sentiment should be involved," the court said, according to Live Law website.

Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, for the Delhi government, urged for strong intervention as "sterilisation only prevents the increase in their population, but it does not take away the power of the dogs to give rabies," the website reported.

However, the move has drawn criticism from conservationists over its implementation.

"Where are the shelters to house thousands of dogs?" conservation biologist Bahar Dutt said in a post on X, calling the top court's order an "impractical unscientific move".

"We need mass vaccination & mass sterilization — the only humane, proven ways to reduce conflicts," Vidit Sharma, founder of animal welfare organisation Save A Stray, said on X.