<h2>Supreme Court Judgment on Stray Dogs in Institutional Premises</h2>
<p>The <span class="key-term" data-definition="India's apex judicial body, final interpreter of the Constitution and laws (GS2: Polity)">Supreme Court</span> has clarified that stray dogs found inside schools, hospitals, sports complexes, airports, bus stands and railway stations cannot be treated as “street dogs” or “community dogs” under the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Regulations framed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, governing capture, sterilisation, vaccination and management of stray dogs (GS2: Polity)">Animal Birth Control Rules (ABC Rules), 2023</span>. Consequently, the dogs cannot be released back to the same location after capture and sterilisation.</p>
<h3>Key Developments</h3>
<ul>
<li>In <strong>2026</strong>, a three‑judge bench (Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria) delivered the judgment in a batch of suo motu cases on stray‑dog attacks.</li>
<li>The Court rejected arguments that Rule 11(19) of the ABC Rules obliges authorities to re‑release sterilised dogs to the exact locality of capture.</li>
<li>It held that the classification in Rule 7(2) – which mentions “street dogs” or “community owned dogs” – is descriptive only and does not create enforceable rights.</li>
<li>The term “gated campus” in Rule 7(2) was not intended to legitimise stray dogs in sensitive institutional premises.</li>
<li>The judgment reaffirmed earlier directions (Nov 7, 2025) for municipal bodies to remove stray dogs from institutional areas, shift them to shelters after sterilisation, and prevent re‑release to the same premises.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Facts</h3>
<p>The Court relied on the definition of “street” in Section 2(i) of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Central legislation that prohibits cruelty to animals and provides the legal basis for animal welfare measures (GS2: Polity)">Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (PCA Act)</span>. That definition limits “street” to public roads, lanes and passages open to the general public. Therefore, “same place or locality” in Rule 11(19) is confined to open‑access areas, not to controlled‑access campuses.</p>
<p>The judgment emphasised that institutions such as schools, hospitals and transport hubs serve vulnerable groups – children, patients and the elderly – and must maintain secure, hygienic environments. Allowing stray dogs to remain or be re‑introduced would conflict with public‑safety considerations and the constitutional guarantee of life and personal liberty under <span class="key-term" data-definition="Constitutional provision guaranteeing the right to life and personal liberty, including safety and health (GS2: Polity)">Article 21</span>.</p>
<h3>UPSC Relevance</h3>
<p>This case touches upon several UPSC topics:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Legal Framework:</strong> Understanding how statutes (ABC Rules, PCA Act) are interpreted by the judiciary.</li>
<li><strong>Public
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