The Supreme Court on Wednesday (January 7, 2026) said that “no one knows which dog is in what mood” and said that people were dying not just due to dog bites but because of road accidents caused by stray animals.
A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N. V. Anjaria, which was hearing pleas for modification of its November 7 order on immediate relocation of stray dogs, said it is conducting the hearing as many lawyers and animal activists had said that they were not heard before passing of the order. It also flagged non-compliance of rules and directions by civic bodies. The petitions were filed by animal lovers and those seeking stringent compliance of orders.
“The roads should be clear of dogs and stray animals. It is not only the dog bites but also the roaming of stray animals on roads that are proving dangerous and causing accidents. No one knows which dog is in what mood in the morning. Civic bodies have to implement the rules, modules and directions strictly,” the Bench said.
Justice Mehta pointed out that two judges of the Rajasthan High Court have met with accidents in the past 20 days and one of judge is still suffering from spinal injuries. “It’s a serious issue,” he told lawyers appearing in the matter.
