Court orders can change. Last checked against the official judgments and AWBI documents on 08-10-2026. The Supreme Court next hears this case on 17 November 2026, and we’ll update this page after that.
On 19 May 2026, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court (Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria) delivered its judgment in the suo moto stray dogs case, In Re: “City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price”. [S2] This page explains what the judgment and the earlier orders it upholds actually say, quoting the documents where it matters. For more on caring for dogs, visit our dog hub.
The orders in this case, in order
- 22 August 2025: sterilise, deworm, vaccinate and release dogs back to the same area; set up dedicated feeding spaces in every municipal ward; no feeding on the streets. [S1]
- 7 November 2025: remove stray dogs from institutional premises such as schools, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands and railway stations, with no re-release there. The 19 May 2026 judgment upheld this order and dismissed the applications to change it. [S2]
- 27 November 2025: the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to put the 7 November order into practice. [S3] The Supreme Court upheld them on 19 May 2026. [S2]
- 19 May 2026: the judgment, with new directions to every State and Union Territory, and monitoring handed to the High Courts. [S2]
Feeding: what the orders actually say
- On streets: the 22 August 2025 order directs dedicated feeding spaces in each municipal ward and says: “Under no condition shall the feeding of stray dogs on the streets be permitted.” People who break this are liable to face action under the order. [S1]
- At feeding spots: the AWBI SOPs say citizens should be made aware that “feeding of dogs must only take place at the designated feedings spots”. [S3] The SOPs don’t say where those spots should be or at what times.
- On school and college campuses: any animal welfare group or student body that feeds or looks after dogs on campus must file an affidavit with the head of the institution accepting liability for any bite. Without it, no feeding or maintaining of stray dogs is allowed on the campus. [S2]
- Near institutions: food vendors within 100 metres of the institutions covered must use closed waste bins and make sure no dogs are fed near their stalls. [S3]
Feeding itself isn’t banned. Under these orders it has to happen at designated spots, not on the street.
Schools, hospitals and other public places
- The Court held that the law doesn’t require dogs to be kept in, or released back into, institutional premises or other restricted-access areas. [S2]
- The AWBI SOPs cover educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands and railway stations. They also advise covering religious places, children’s parks, airports, seaports, tourist sites and recreational spots. [S3] The Court upheld this wider list. [S2]
- These premises must be fenced (at least 6 feet high), with a nodal officer in charge. Dogs found inside are removed, sterilised and vaccinated, then kept in designated shelters. [S3]
The new directions of 19 May 2026
- At least one fully functional Animal Birth Control (ABC) centre in every district. [S2]
- Anti-rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin to be available in all government medical facilities. [S2]
- States must consider extending the directions to other high-footfall public spaces, such as transit hubs. [S2]
- Euthanasia: in areas where dog bites have become frequent, authorities may take legally permissible measures, including euthanasia, but only for dogs that are rabid, incurably ill or demonstrably dangerous or aggressive. This is subject to assessment by qualified veterinary experts and must follow the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and the ABC Rules, 2023. [S2]
- Officials: officers implementing the orders in good faith are protected from FIRs and criminal complaints, unless there is mala fides or gross abuse of authority. [S2]
- Cattle on highways: the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) must set up a system to deal with stray cattle on national highways, including transport vehicles and arrangements with gaushalas and animal welfare organisations. [S2]
Who monitors it now
- Every High Court must register its own suo moto case to monitor compliance. [S2]
- States and Union Territories had to file compliance affidavits before their High Courts by 7 August 2026. [S2]
- High Courts report to the Supreme Court every four months. The next Supreme Court hearing is on 17 November 2026. [S2]
- On 21 July 2026, the AWBI wrote to the States asking for strict compliance with the judgment and its SOPs. [S4]
So the place to follow what’s happening in your state is now your High Court’s compliance case, not only the Supreme Court.
What hasn’t changed
- Outside institutional and restricted areas, the 22 August 2025 order still says sterilised and vaccinated dogs go back to the same area. Rabid or aggressive dogs are not released. [S1]
- Killing dogs at will is not allowed. Euthanasia is limited to the cases above, after veterinary assessment. [S2]
The Pawsitive Hoomans Take
If you feed dogs in your area, the safest thing you can do is get a feeding spot formally designated by your municipality or society, in writing, and feed only there. Make sure the dogs you feed are sterilised and vaccinated, and keep a record of it. That protects you, and it protects the dogs.
🐾 Looking after community dogs? Keep each dog’s vaccination dates in a free Pet Passport, and set reminders with our Vaccination Tracker.
Frequently asked questions
Has the Supreme Court banned feeding stray dogs?
No. The orders say feeding must happen at designated feeding spots, and the 22 August 2025 order says feeding on the streets isn’t permitted. [S1] [S3]
Can stray dogs be removed from schools and hospitals?
Yes. Under the 7 November 2025 order, which the 19 May 2026 judgment upheld, dogs are removed from institutional premises, sterilised, vaccinated and kept in designated shelters, not released back there. [S2] [S3]
Can authorities now kill stray dogs?
Only in limited cases: dogs that are rabid, incurably ill or demonstrably dangerous or aggressive, after assessment by qualified veterinary experts and in line with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the ABC Rules. [S2]
Can students feed dogs on a college campus?
Only if the group files an affidavit with the head of the institution accepting liability for any dog bite. Otherwise no feeding or maintaining of stray dogs is allowed on campus. [S2]
Who is monitoring the order in my state?
Your High Court, through a suo moto compliance case that every High Court was directed to register. [S2]
When is the next hearing?
The Supreme Court listed the case for 17 November 2026. [S2]
Sources and last checked
- [S1] Supreme Court of India, order dated 22 August 2025 (2025 INSC 1018), Suo Moto Writ Petition (Civil) No. 5 of 2025, para 33 – sci.gov.in (PDF) – Last checked: 03-10-2026
- [S2] Supreme Court of India, judgment dated 19 May 2026 (2026 INSC 506), paras 74–76, 82–85 and 108–114 – sci.gov.in (PDF) – Last checked: 08-10-2026
- [S3] Animal Welfare Board of India, Standard Operating Procedure for Prevention of Dog Bites and Management of Stray Dogs in Institutional Premises (27 November 2025) – awbi.gov.in (PDF) – Last checked: 08-10-2026
- [S4] Animal Welfare Board of India, circular on strict compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions (21 July 2026) – awbi.gov.in (PDF) – Last checked: 08-10-2026
Disclaimer: PawsitiveHoomans is an independent information resource and is not affiliated with the Supreme Court of India or the Animal Welfare Board of India. This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. For your specific situation, consult a lawyer or your local animal welfare organisation.