New Delhi: Amid the alarming surge in dog bite incidents, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the removal of stray dogs from educational institutions, hospitals, bus stands, sports complexes and railway stations, ordering that the animals be relocated to designated shelters.

A Bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria, which is monitoring stray dog-bite cases through a suo motu proceeding, instructed authorities to ensure that dogs are not allowed to enter the premises of Government or public institutions. The Court further ordered that captured dogs must not be released back into the same areas from where they were taken.

The Bench directed local municipal bodies to conduct regular inspections of all public premises to ensure that no stray dog habitats exist. “Every stray dog is to be forthwith removed from such premises and relocated to a shelter after sterilisation,” the Court said, adding that the process must be completed within eight weeks.

The Apex Court also asked all States and Union Territories to address the shortcomings pointed out by the amicus curiae (court-appointed lawyer) in implementing the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules as per the Court’s earlier directives.

The Bench directed that comprehensive affidavits be filed before the next hearing, outlining the remedial measures taken to rectify the lapses. “Any laxity will be viewed seriously,” it warned.

The matter, which originated from a suo motu case taken up on July 28 following reports of dog bites and rabies deaths, particularly among children in the National Capital, will be heard again on Jan. 13, 2026.