The Supreme Court of India has issued a stern rebuke to state governments across the country for their insufficient and often misleading efforts in controlling the stray dog population. During a hearing on Wednesday, the apex court expressed deep dissatisfaction with the measures reported by various states, highlighting significant gaps in implementation and data accuracy.
Court Questions State Statistics and Efforts
While hearing a suo motu case initiated last July, a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria listened to amicus curiae Senior Advocate Gaurav Agarwal summarize the actions taken by state governments. The court remarked that states appeared to be "building castles in the air" with their plans, indicating that concrete, actionable steps were largely missing.
Assam's Alarming Dog Bite Statistics
Agarwal highlighted the situation in Assam, where the number of Animal Birth Control (ABC) centers was deemed "inadequate". The court expressed shock at the scale of dog bite cases in the state, noting that in 2024 there were 1.66 lakh bites, and in January 2025 alone, there were 20,900 incidents. "This is shocking," the bench remarked, emphasizing the urgent need for a detailed action plan to increase ABC centers beyond the single existing facility in Dibrugarh.
Jharkhand's Dubious Sterilization Claims
The bench was particularly irked by the statistics provided by Jharkhand, which claimed to have sterilized 1.6 lakh dogs in just two months. "How many dogs can a caged vehicle catch in a day? Absolutely fudged up figures," the court said, questioning the feasibility and accuracy of the data presented.
Bihar's Insufficient Sterilization Efforts
In the case of Bihar, Agarwal pointed out that while the state reported 34 ABC centers and the sterilization of 20,648 dogs, this number was totally insufficient given an estimated stray dog population of over 6 lakh. The state's counsel assured the court that initiatives would be ramped up, with improvements expected within three months.
Lack of Comprehensive Data and Planning
The court noted that none of the states, except Assam, had provided data on the number of dog bites, and affidavits lacked mention of surveys in institutional areas to prevent stray dog entry. Agarwal also raised concerns about the impact on tourism in Kerala and Goa if stray dogs caught from beaches were released without proper management.
Overall, the Supreme Court's hearing underscored a nationwide failure in effectively addressing the stray dog menace, with states falling short in both planning and execution. The hearing is set to continue on Thursday as the court seeks more concrete commitments and verifiable data from state authorities.
