SC takes suo motu note of fatal stray dog attacks

Taking cognisance of a news report about the death of a six-year-old girl in Delhi due to rabies after being bitten by a stray dog, the Supreme Court on Monday commenced suo motu proceedings on the issue.

Saying the report contained some “alarming and disturbing figures”, a Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan directed that the matter be placed before the Chief Justice of India “for appropriate orders”.

Every day, hundreds of dog-bite cases are being reported in the city and on its outskirts, leading to rabies. Ultimately, children and the elderly were falling prey to the dreadful disease, the Bench noted.

According to the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, the total number of stray dogs in India was estimated to be 1.53 crore in 2019. The country also saw 37,15,713 dog-bite cases in 2024. The five worst-affected states were Maharashtra (4,85,345), Tamil Nadu (4,80,427), Gujarat (3,92,837), Karnataka (3,61,494) and Bihar (2,63,930).

Rabies also claimed 54 lives across the country in 2024 –including 14 in Maharashtra, six in Uttar Pradesh, five in Karnataka, four in Meghalaya and three in Kerala. As many as 4,29,664 dog-bite cases had been reported in the first month of this year.

Delhi recorded 17,874 dog-bite cases in 2023, which rose to 25,210 in 2024. In January 2025 alone, 3,196 dog-bite cases were reported in the national capital.

Earlier on July 15, the Supreme Court had also said dog lovers should feed them in their own houses as people in various cities continue to face the menace of stray dogs.

According to Rule 20 of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, the onus for making necessary arrangements for feeding community animals is on resident welfare associations or apartment owner associations or civic authorities.