The Supreme Court on Friday imposed a financial condition on those intervening in the stray dog matter, directing individual petitioners and animal welfare organisations to deposit money towards canine welfare if they wish to continue participating in the proceedings.
A bench hearing a series of petitions, including a suo motu case, ordered that “every individual dog lover and NGO intervening in the suo motu proceedings must deposit Rs 25,000 and Rs 2 lakh respectively, with the court's registry. Failure to comply will disqualify them from further participation in the case.” The court clarified that the contributions are to be used exclusively for the welfare of dogs and implemented through municipal authorities.
Advocate Vivek Sharma, appearing for the petitioners, explained that the financial stipulation was never intended to target ordinary citizens. “The observation (of imposing fine of Rs 25,000 and Rs 2 lakh in the order) is meant for NGOs and intervenors who intervened in the suo motu matter, not for common people. The purpose of it can be understood by going through the order. These funds will be used for the welfare of dogs,” Sharma said.
Also read: SC alters stray dog order, permits release post sterilisation
The revised order represents a significant shift from earlier directives. The bench has now permitted the release of sterilised, vaccinated and dewormed dogs back into their original territories but banned their feeding in public spaces. Instead, civic bodies must set up designated feeding zones in each municipal ward, with violations subject to penalty.
The ruling also directs that dogs displaying rabies symptoms or showing aggressive behaviour must be quarantined in shelters rather than returned to the streets. Further, the bench encouraged adoption, making it clear that once adopted, dogs cannot be sent back to the streets.
The court expanded the scope of its directions across the country, impleading all states and union territories, and transferred similar cases from High Courts to itself to ensure a uniform national framework on stray dog management.
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