The Supreme Court on Friday issued one of its most sweeping directives yet on public safety, ordering every State, Union Territory, and civic authority to clear stray cattle and dogs from highways, major roads, and sensitive public spaces. The move comes amid growing concerns over road accidents, rising dog-bite cases and the inability of local bodies to enforce existing protocols.
Hearing a suo motu case on stray dog attacks, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria said the situation demanded urgent and coordinated intervention. The court directed all States and UTs to create highway patrol teams specifically tasked with capturing stray cattle and transporting them to shelter homes. &ldquo;A joint coordinated drive shall be undertaken to immediately remove all such animals found on highways, roadways and expressways,&rdquo; the bench said, warning that non-compliance would invite personal liability for senior officers.
In an equally sharp directive, the bench ordered that stray dogs must be cleared from educational institutions, hospitals, bus stands, railway stations and similar high-footfall areas. These dogs, after sterilisation and vaccination as per the Animal Birth Control Rules, must be shifted to designated shelters, not released back to the same location. &ldquo;Permitting the same would frustrate the very purpose of liberating such institutions from the presence of stray dogs,&rdquo; the court noted.
Local self-government bodies have been made directly responsible for identifying and clearing such zones, with mandatory inspections to ensure no re-emergence of stray habitats. States and UTs are required to file compliance reports within eight weeks outlining mechanisms created to execute the court&rsquo;s orders.
The suo motu proceedings began earlier this year after reports highlighted rising dog-bite incidents and lapses in managing the stray population, particularly in institutional areas where feeding by employees had become routine. The court will take up the case again on January 13.

SC Orders Sweep to Clear Strays From Public Spaces

Top court orders states, UTs to remove stray cattle, dogs from highways & key public zones

SC Orders Sweep to Clear Strays From Public Spaces

Top court orders states, UTs to remove stray cattle, dogs from highways & key public zones

November 7, 2025 | 21:58 IST