The Supreme Court of India reserves its order in the stray dogs case, criticising states for failing to sterilise street dogs and ensure public safety.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Thursday reserved its judgment in the stray dog case, following a detailed hearing that included submissions from all states.

The hearing concluded after the court heard arguments from a wide range of stakeholders, including dog lovers, victims of dog bite incidents, animal rights activists, and legal representatives of the Centre and state governments. The court directed all parties to submit their written arguments within one week.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, the Supreme Court expressed strong dissatisfaction with several states for failing to take effective measures to sterilise street dogs, set up dog pounds, and remove stray dogs from the premises of schools and other institutions.

Also read :  Parliamentary Proceedings: Lok Sabha to Reconvene February 1 for Budget Session 2026

“They are all building castles in the air,” remarked the bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria.

While reviewing compliance with its earlier directions, the court noted that the states’ responses were unsatisfactory and appeared to be mere “storytelling.”

The court also highlighted alarming data from Assam, which recorded 166,000 dog bite cases in 2024 despite having only one dog centre. In January 2025 alone, 20,900 people were bitten by dogs, a figure the court described as deeply concerning.