New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has taken suo motu cognisance of a disturbing media report highlighting a spike in fatal stray dog attacks, particularly on children and the elderly in Delhi and nearby areas. A bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan described the situation as “deeply alarming” and said urgent attention is needed.
The court’s response came after it read a news report titled “City hounded by strays and kids pay price,” which detailed the heartbreaking story of six-year-old Chavi Sharma, who died of rabies after being bitten by a stray dog in Pooth Kalan, Delhi. Despite receiving initial treatment, she showed symptoms weeks later and could not be saved. Her death has drawn attention to serious lapses in post-bite medical care and awareness.
The Supreme Court has now asked its registry to register this issue as a public interest litigation and referred it to Chief Justice B S Gavai for further action. The move signals the court’s intent to take the matter beyond headlines and toward meaningful policy and administrative reform.
Reacting to the apex court’s intervention, Vijay Goel, social worker and former Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, reiterated the need for urgent and stringent government strategies to tackle the stray dog menace. While speaking in his recent press conference, Mr. Goel praised the courts initiative and expressed the incompetency of the state governments regarding the issue of stray dogs all over India. “Lives, especially of innocent children and the elderly, are at stake. It is imperative to balance empathy with effective action like mass sterilization, vaccination of stray dogs, and better civic management. Awareness drives are equally critical to educate citizens on how to respond to dog bites promptly to prevent fatal outcomes,” Mr. Goel said. He stressed upon the fact that all over in Delhi, fear of stray dogs has risen, in this regard, he advocated for the amendment of existing ABC rules and mentioned that he will put PIL stating the horrific wrath of stray dogs in India as per past year reports.
As per Indian health reports, India records around 9 million animal bite cases annually, with an estimated 5,700 human deaths due to rabies. Most victims are under 14 or over 60 years of age. The court’s intervention could push much-needed improvements in how cities handle stray dog populations, sterilization drives, vaccination, and access to emergency care. It may also prompt a broader public conversation on safety, compassion, and accountability in urban spaces.
(With inputs from Ruchika Srivastava)
