What Are Animal Birth Control Rules That Supreme Court Termed “Absurd” In Stray Dog Case
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The Supreme Court of India has come down heavily on the existing Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, calling them “absurd” while addressing the escalating problem of stray dog attacks in Delhi.
On Monday, a bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan directed the Delhi government and civic bodies to immediately begin removing stray dogs from all neighbourhoods and placing them in shelter facilities. The order follows a surge in incidents of dog bites and fatalities linked to rabies.
Under the current ABC Rules, stray dogs are sterilised and returned to the exact locality they were picked up from — a practice the court criticised.
“Pick up dogs from all localities and shift them to shelter homes. For the time being, forget the rules,” the bench ordered, warning that the situation was “extremely grim”.
The justices stressed that protecting children from dog bites and rabies must be the top priority.
“Immediate steps need to be taken to take care of the menace of dog bites leading to rabies… We are issuing these directions keeping the larger public interest in mind.”
Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023 – Explained
Introduced by the central government, the Animal Birth Control Rules , 2023 were designed to manage stray dog populations through sterilisation and vaccination. The aim was to control numbers, curb the spread of rabies, and balance human-animal coexistence.
However, the Supreme Court noted that the current approach isn’t working in the face of rising attacks. The bench instructed authorities to create dog shelters with a capacity for at least 5,000 strays, staffed adequately to sterilise and vaccinate them.
Authorities must submit a plan for these shelters within eight weeks. The court also issued a stern warning that any individual or organisation obstructing the collection of stray dogs would face strict action.
Additionally, the court directed the creation of a helpline within one week to ensure all dog bite incidents are reported without delay.
Rising Cases of Dog Bites in India
Government data reveals the alarming scale of the issue. In 2024 alone, India recorded over 37 lakh dog bite cases and 54 suspected rabies-related deaths.
Union Minister SP Singh Baghel told Parliament on 22 July that 37,17,336 bite incidents were reported last year. He confirmed that municipalities are responsible for implementing the ABC Programme and that an advisory was issued in November 2024 to state governments, urging them to enhance control measures.
The focus, he emphasised, is to ensure “the safety and security of children, especially toddlers, from stray dog attacks.”
On Monday, a bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan directed the Delhi government and civic bodies to immediately begin removing stray dogs from all neighbourhoods and placing them in shelter facilities. The order follows a surge in incidents of dog bites and fatalities linked to rabies.
Under the current ABC Rules, stray dogs are sterilised and returned to the exact locality they were picked up from — a practice the court criticised.
“Pick up dogs from all localities and shift them to shelter homes. For the time being, forget the rules,” the bench ordered, warning that the situation was “extremely grim”.
The justices stressed that protecting children from dog bites and rabies must be the top priority.
“Immediate steps need to be taken to take care of the menace of dog bites leading to rabies… We are issuing these directions keeping the larger public interest in mind.”
Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023 – Explained
Introduced by the central government, the Animal Birth Control Rules , 2023 were designed to manage stray dog populations through sterilisation and vaccination. The aim was to control numbers, curb the spread of rabies, and balance human-animal coexistence.
However, the Supreme Court noted that the current approach isn’t working in the face of rising attacks. The bench instructed authorities to create dog shelters with a capacity for at least 5,000 strays, staffed adequately to sterilise and vaccinate them.
Authorities must submit a plan for these shelters within eight weeks. The court also issued a stern warning that any individual or organisation obstructing the collection of stray dogs would face strict action.
Additionally, the court directed the creation of a helpline within one week to ensure all dog bite incidents are reported without delay.
Rising Cases of Dog Bites in India
Government data reveals the alarming scale of the issue. In 2024 alone, India recorded over 37 lakh dog bite cases and 54 suspected rabies-related deaths.
Union Minister SP Singh Baghel told Parliament on 22 July that 37,17,336 bite incidents were reported last year. He confirmed that municipalities are responsible for implementing the ABC Programme and that an advisory was issued in November 2024 to state governments, urging them to enhance control measures.
The focus, he emphasised, is to ensure “the safety and security of children, especially toddlers, from stray dog attacks.”
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