SC to rule tomorrow on stray dog relocation stay in Delhi-NCR

New Delhi: The Supreme Court is set to deliver its decision tomorrow on whether to pause an earlier directive ordering the removal of stray dogs from Delhi and surrounding areas to shelter homes.

The case is being heard by a special three-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria. This bench took over the matter after a dramatic turn of events on August 13, when several lawyers raised concerns before the Chief Justice of India. They claimed that the earlier directions issued on August 11 by a two-judge bench --Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan -- conflicted with previous Supreme Court orders on stray dog management.

The August 11 directions had followed a suo motu (on its own motion) case taken up by the court, based on a July 28 news report in The Times of India titled "City hounded by strays and kids pay price". Acting on suggestions from Senior Advocate and amicus curiae Gaurav Agarwal, the bench had ordered that all stray dogs in the Delhi National Capital Region be moved immediately to dog shelters or pounds.

On August 14, the newly appointed three-judge bench heard arguments on whether to put the August 11 directions on hold, and reserved its decision -- which will now be announced tomorrow.