SC stray dog verdict leaves Jaipur grappling with with infrastructure gaps

Jaipur: The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold its directions on the removal and rehabilitation of stray dogs from public places has sparked concern among animal lovers and feeders in Jaipur, even as many residents see it as a step towards safer public spaces.

On Tuesday, the apex court dismissed petitions challenging its Nov 2025 directions and reiterated that its guidelines on rehabilitation and sterilisation would remain in force. The court observed that dangerous or rabid dogs could be euthanised in accordance with the law and stressed that the right to live with dignity also includes the right to live free from the threat of aggressive dogs.

The ruling has once again highlighted Jaipur’s limited infrastructure for handling stray dogs. At present, the city has only one dog facility at Jaisinghpura Khor under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme. The centre, meant primarily for sterilisation and treatment, can house around 100 dogs and is not designed for long-term rehabilitation.

Animal welfare groups argue that removing dogs without building permanent shelters could simply shift the problem elsewhere. In its compliance affidavit submitted before the Supreme Court on Jan 6, the Rajasthan govt stated that preventive measures against stray dogs were being implemented at 5,516 educational institutions, 974 hospitals, 531 primary health centres, 935 colleges, 258 bus stands and 156 railway stations across the state.

For Jaipur, the affidavit identified 882 educational institutions, 145 hospitals and 130 designated feeding points. It also reported that 27,858 dogs were sterilised and 34,672 treated under anti-rabies measures, though no timeline was specified.

Anita Mittal, deputy commissioner of Jaipur Municipal Corporation’s animal management wing, said preparations for new shelters were underway and efforts were being made to improve the capacity and efficiency of the ABC programme.

The judgment has also triggered tensions around feeding points. According to a JMC RTI reply, Jaipur has 173 officially designated feeding points, but feeders claim they are increasingly facing hostility from residents. A dispute between residents and animal lovers over feeding stray dogs was reported at BSNL Colony in Malviya Nagar on Thursday.