Supreme Court Issues Stern Warning on Stray Dogs, Next Hearing to Question ‘Humanity’

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has delivered a strict observation on matters concerning stray dogs, emphasizing the importance of humanity in dealing with them. During Thursday’s hearing, the Court noted that certain rules of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) have resulted in inhumane treatment of stray dogs. The bench announced that in the next hearing, a video will be shown, and the court will ask the fundamental question: What is humanity?

The hearing was conducted by a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal informed the Court that the three-judge special bench constituted for the case did not sit for Thursday’s proceedings. Justice Vikram Nath scheduled the next hearing for January 7, 2026.

Concerns Over MCD Rules
Kapil Sibal highlighted that in the interim, the MCD has enacted rules that violate statutory provisions, potentially affecting the welfare of stray dogs. The authorities are reportedly planning to implement these rules in December, which would involve the removal of stray dogs from public areas. Sibal expressed concern that by the next hearing, circumstances might have already changed, complicating the matter further.

Next Hearing to Highlight Humanity
In response, Justice Vikram Nath said, “Let them implement, we will consider this.” Sibal requested an earlier hearing, but Justice Sandeep Mehta clarified that the court will play a video during the next hearing and ask, “What is humanity?”—underscoring the judiciary’s focus on ethical and humane treatment in this case.