SC noted that repeated incidents of dog bites at key public spaces are not merely a public-health challenge but a matter of human safety under Article 21 of the Constitution.

SC Directions

• A nodal officer must be appointed for the upkeep and surveillance of each such premise like educational institutions, hospitals, transport hubs, etc. by their respective management.
• District Magistrates to ensure that such premises are secured by adequate fencing, boundary walls, gates.
• Local municipal authorities and panchayats shall carry out regular inspections, at least once in every three months.
• All Government and private hospitals shall maintain a mandatory stock of anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulin at all times.
• Proper waste-management systems shall be implemented to eliminate food sources that attract animals.

Issue of Stray dogs in India

• Population size: 1.5 crore (2019 livestock census).
• Dog Bites in India: Around 37 lakh in 2024 (National Centre for Disease Control data).
• Rabies: India contributes to 36% of global rabies deaths.
• Mortality: Dog bites are responsible for about 96% of the mortality and morbidity associated with rabies in India.