NEW DELHI: Not only in the national capital Delhi but in many parts of the country, the problem caused by stray dogs and other animals has become so serious that it has reached the courts. Unfortunately, some organisations, leaders, affluent individuals and even lawyers have gone to the Supreme Court in defence of stray dogs. This has raised a fundamental question: what should be the priority of society, government and the courts?
In July 2025 the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the rising cases of dog bites, rabies infections and road accidents caused by stray dogs. The court initially observed that this was not a trivial matter, as it involved serious issues of public safety and fundamental rights under Article 21. During the hearings, the bench remarked, “A dog can attack by sensing a person’s fear”. “We cannot read a human mind to know whether a dog will bite or not. A stray dog on the road not only bites, it also collides with vehicles and cyclists”. The court stated that the safety of public places comes first.
The Supreme Court clarified that it had not ordered the removal of every dog from the streets; rather, its direction was to ensure that humane and scientific management of stray animals is implemented. According to Government of India health data, dog-bite cases have been rising sharply:
- 2022: 2,189,905
- 2023: 3,052,521
- 2024: 3,715,713
- 2025 (up to January 2026): 429,664
These figures clearly show that dog bites in India have become a problem of epidemic proportions. Delhi alone highlights how deep the crisis is: about 6,691 bites were reported in 2022, 17,874 in 2023, around 25,210 in 2024, and 3,196 cases in 2025-26 (till January). After a dog bite, the most serious immediate health threat is rabies, a viral infection with an almost 100 percent fatality rate if post-exposure prophylaxis is not administered in time. India accounts for more than half of the world’s rabies cases, with scientific estimates suggesting that over 5,000 people die every year due to this disease.
Earlier, on August 11, 2025, a two-judge bench ordered that all stray dogs in the Delhi-NCR region be captured within eight weeks, sent to shelter homes, sterilised and vaccinated there, and not released back onto the streets. This order came amid intense debate and protests by dog lovers. The decision was referred for review to a three-judge bench, which considered sterilisation plus vaccination and their implementation. The court emphasised that rabid or aggressive dogs should be kept in shelters and banned the presence of stray dogs in hospital corridors and similar places.
The Supreme Court also made it clear that stray animals are not only a biting hazard: they also directly cause traffic accidents. Many two-wheelers and cars crash into dogs or cows that suddenly appear on the road, leading to serious injuries and deaths. The court ordered that cows, buffaloes and other animals be removed from national and state highways. It also directed that 24-7 patrols, toll booths and helplines be set up every 10-15 kilometres, along with road signs, warning boards and clearly fixed official responsibility.
To deal with stray dogs, other roaming animals, rabies and road accidents, the Supreme Court has prioritised “public safety and scientific solutions over private sentiments”. The court has stressed implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules. Systems must be put in place to remove animals from roads. Rabies protocols after bites must be streamlined. States must be held accountable for their plans. This is not merely about dogs; it is about protecting the lives, health and road safety of ordinary people.
JUDICIAL PENDENCY AND VACANCIES
India’s courts have more than 54.1 million pending cases. This figure includes the Supreme Court, High Courts and district and subordinate courts combined. According to official government and judicial records, in 2025-26 the Supreme Court alone has around 90,000 to 92,000 pending cases. Across all 25 High Courts, about 6.3 to 6.5 million cases are pending. District and subordinate courts have around 48 to 49 million pending cases.
This means nearly 90 percent of all cases are stuck in district courts, and only a small fraction reach the Supreme Court. Over the past few years, as new cases have increased, old pendency has also grown. Supreme Court cases have risen by about 30 percent since 2021, and in lower courts the backlog continues to pile up for thousands of reasons. The rise in pendency is not just about numbers—it is also about complexity. Many cases are not simple; they involve difficult facts, witnesses and evidence. Repeated adjournments slow proceedings. Delays are also caused by issues such as availability of primary evidence, officers, and family disputes. Disputes between state governments and central agencies also remain pending for long periods. Some cases have been stuck for decades, even more than a century.
As of 2025-26, the Supreme Court has about 34 judges, and all positions are currently filled. However, across the High Courts, more than 300 judge positions are vacant. Thousands of posts are also vacant in district courts. Various states have over 1000 vacancies—for example, Uttar Pradesh has 1,055, Gujarat 535, and Madhya Pradesh 384. This shows that courts still have far too few judges while new cases keep getting filed every year.
Judicial appointments are mainly made through the Supreme Court collegium system, in which the Chief Justice of India and senior judges decide the names. These are then sent to the government, where review, verification and approval take considerable time. Sometimes the collegium sends names but the government raises additional queries or delays them, causing the process to remain stalled for months. At times, objections or disputes are raised about recommended names, further slowing the process. As a result, it often takes months, and sometimes years, to fill vacancies, even as the workload continues to increase. The real question, therefore, remains: what should be the priority of the system of power and of society?
