India, Sept. 19 -- On 22 August 2025, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Vikram Nath, overturned the 11 August 2025 ruling of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan on the contentious issue of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR. The earlier order had directed municipal authorities to immediately begin rounding up stray dogs, set up shelters within eight weeks, and permanently relocate them from streets, colonies, and public spaces.
That ruling, while stern, was grounded in urgent concerns of public safety. However, within days of the decision, nationwide protests from animal rights groups and self-styled dog welfare activists forced a rethink. Responding to the uproar, Chief Justice of India B R Gavai constituted a new bench ...