Stray dogs inside the Supreme Court premises on Friday
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New Delhi
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is planning to fast-track the setting up of canine shelters and deploy guards at key public spaces after the Supreme Court on Friday directed that stray dogs be removed from public and government premises.
The apex court’s order made it the responsibility of local authorities to ensure that no stray dogs remain within the premises of educational institutions, hospitals (public or private), sports complexes, bus depots, or railway stations.
It said such dogs must be shifted to “designated shelters” after sterilisation and vaccination and not be released back to the same locations.
The MCD said it has begun planning measures to ensure compliance with the court’s directions. “While the dog shelter is a work in progress, we will ask to fast-track the tendering process. For areas under our jurisdiction, we will designate feeding spots outside and employ guards to make sure they don’t enter the premises. If dogs are still found inside, we will move them to shelters,” said an MCD official.
For the civic body, implementation will depend on infrastructure. Delhi does not yet have an operational large-scale dog shelter. A 2.5-acre plot has been identified at the MCD’s Dwarka animal birth control (ABC) centre for building one that can house 1,000-1,500 dogs.
Spot checks
Spot visits to several institutions in the city showed that stray dogs have long been a part of these spaces, often cared for by employees. At the Delhi Vidhan Sabha, about seven to eight dogs roam freely within the complex. “They have been here for over five years and do not bother anyone. Officials and visitors even feed them sometimes,” said a staff member. Another official added, “If the government tells us to remove them, we will follow the order.”
Outside the New Delhi railway station, several dogs were seen near the parcel yard. “They tear parcels sometimes but have never bitten anyone. If you put fences, where will we work?” said Anil, a 37-year-old coolie.
Hospitals such as AIIMS face additional challenges with their multiple entry and exit points. On the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus, dogs have been part of the ecosystem for decades. “They can sometimes cause problems for differently-abled students, so removal might help them. But taking all the dogs away would be unnatural. The campus is partly forest; animals belong here also,” said Avijit Ghosh, a student at the university.
While the administration did not comment, animal activist Gauri Maulekhi said fencing large institutions would be impractical.
“The most sustainable approach is in situ management – maintaining vaccinated, sterilised, and monitored dogs within campuses,” she said.
Published – November 08, 2025 01:45 am IST
