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Supreme Court gave its observations on balancing protection of stray dogs with concerns of citizens | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Supreme Court gave its observations on balancing protection of stray dogs with concerns of citizens

Posted 23 Jul 2025

2 min read

Supreme Court observed that citizens who wished to feed stray dogs should consider doing so inside their own homes, highlighting the ethical divide over stray dogs.

  • Supreme Court observed that law warrant the protection of street dogs, but the authorities will have to bear in mind the concern of common man, such that their movement on streets are not hampered by dog attacks.

Ethical Issues Concerning Stray Dogs

  • Compassion vs Public Order: Citizens have compassion towards feeding stray dogs but others argue that it encourages territorial aggression and public nuisance. 
  • Animal Welfare vs Public Safety: Stray dogs have right to life and dignity yet communities also have the right to safety from dog bites and rabies. 
    • According to NCDC, more than 37 lakh dog bite cases were reported in India in 2024.
  • Ecological Carrying Capacity vs Population Control: It is argued that humans are increasing capacity for stray dog population by feeding them and on the other hand are adopting unethical animal control methods. 
  • Utilitarianism vs Deontological Approach: Abandonment vs Responsibility: Utilitarianian component in human-dog bond has weakened significantly resulting in abandonment of pets while deontological approach prioritizes fulfilling responsibilities towards stray dogs. =

Provisions regarding Stray Dogs in India

  • Constitution: Article 243(W) mandates municipalities to control stray dog population while Article 51A(g) places a fundamental duty on citizens “to have compassion for living creatures
  • Rules: Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 seek to control stray dog populations through sterilisation, and to curb the spread of rabies by vaccination.
    • Rules addresses feeding of community animals by assigning responsibility to the Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), or Local Bodies.
  • Court Judgements: Supreme Court, in Jallikattu Case 2014, has interpreted the right to life and liberty (Article 21) as extending to animals as well. 
  • Tags :
  • Stray Dogs
  • Compassion
  • Animal Welfare
  • Utilitarianism
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