To: The Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, The Government of NCT Delhi, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)
Cc: Animal Welfare Board of India, Amicus Curiae in Suo Moto Writ Petition (Civil) No. 5/2025

On July 28, 2025, the Supreme Court of India took suo moto cognizance of a newspaper report about stray dog bite incidents in Delhi-NCR and issued notice to the Delhi Government and MCD. The matter is next listed for 11 August 2025.

While public safety is a legitimate concern, we strongly oppose any hasty or indiscriminate removal of stray dogs from our streets without scientific evidence, proper planning, or humane safeguards.

Why this matters:

• The present court order relies solely on a single newspaper report without verified data or epidemiological studies.
• The quoted statistics (20,000 dog bites nationally per day, 2,000 in Delhi) have no disclosed source and require independent verification.
• Existing schemes like the Delhi Government’s rehabilitation of stray dogs were noted by the Court but never examined or improved.
• Mass displacement is not a sustainable solution — it often leads to ecological imbalance, fresh influx of unsterilized dogs, and cruel conditions in under-resourced shelters.

We demand the following before any action is taken:

1. Full disclosure of verified data on dog bites, rabies incidence, and vaccination/sterilization coverage from an independent source.
2. Immediate scale-up of humane measures — mass anti-rabies vaccination, sterilization (ABC/CNVR), waste management, and public awareness.
3. Inclusion of all key stakeholders — Animal Welfare Board of India, registered NGOs, veterinary and epidemiology experts — before deciding any removal policy.
4. Transparent review of Delhi’s existing stray dog rehabilitation scheme with public input and accountability.
5. Proportionality in public safety measures — no “at any cost” actions that disregard humane treatment and the rights of community animals under existing laws.

Stray dogs are part of our urban ecosystem and, when managed scientifically, can co-exist with people safely. We call upon the Supreme Court, the Delhi Government, and the MCD to protect both human safety and animal welfare through responsible, evidence-based policies.

Sign this petition to ensure Delhi-NCR sets an example for humane, data-driven urban animal management.
Let’s speak up before irreversible harm is done.