The Bombay High Court has requested the Maharashtra government to provide comprehensive data regarding the total population of stray dogs in the state, as well as information on sterilisation and vaccination efforts. This request aims to evaluate the effectiveness of current measures designed to control the stray dog population and mitigate dog-bite incidents. The emphasis on data collection emerged during the court’s review of the state’s compliance with existing directives related to stray dog management.

A bench comprising Chief Justice MC Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna initiated this inquiry while examining the state’s adherence to the Supreme Court’s directives issued on May 19. This judgement mandated high courts to register suo motu cases to oversee the enforcement of its orders by both state governments and Union Territories. After reviewing preliminary data from the Additional Government Pleader (AGP), the court insisted on receiving more comprehensive population statistics for stray dogs.

Amicus curiae Mihir Desai highlighted the critical absence of reliable data on stray dog populations, indicating that this limitation hinders a proper assessment of the adequacy of sterilisation and vaccination campaigns. He noted, “We don’t know the population of the strays. No information is provided, and it is necessary to measure the adequacy of these sterilisation and vaccination drives.”

Statistics on Sterilisation and Vaccination Efforts

In a written submission to the court, Desai noted that 150,594 dogs were sterilised in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) over the last six months. He pointed out that these figures must be evaluated against a more reliable estimate of the stray dog population to assess the programme’s success accurately. Furthermore, Desai underscored existing gaps in the availability of rabies treatment within the state’s medical facilities.

Notably, out of 831 government hospitals, 128 did not have access to anti-rabies vaccines, while 381 lacked rabies immunoglobulin. Desai also drew attention to the absence of a dedicated helpline for reporting dog-bite incidents. Additionally, there were significant concerns regarding the relocation of stray dogs. Among the 19,694 dogs identified within urban institutions, a mere 1,479—or roughly 7.5 per cent—had been transferred to shelters.

The government’s affidavits stated that data on rural areas’ relocation was “Not Applicable”. Moreover, Desai requested a detailed account of shelters that comply with the Animal Welfare Board of India’s (AWBI) Standard Operating Procedure, released on November 27, 2025, aimed at managing stray dogs and preventing dog-bite occurrences.

State’s Commitment to Compliance

During a preceding court session, the High Court urged the state government to actively implement the animal birth control (ABC) initiative. The AGP explained that a livestock census conducted every five years could help approximate the stray dog population numbers. The government contended that sterilisation efforts would, over time, decrease the stray dog population, as dogs typically have a lifespan of 12 to 15 years.

The AGP provided additional context by stating that 13,382 sterilisation procedures were performed in September 2026, with data gathered from both rural and urban areas across the state. The AGP expressed the state’s willingness to cooperate, stating, “The State is not taking these proceedings as adversarial at all. We are open to all the suggestions made by Amicus, and we will try to comply with the ABC rules and the guidelines.”

The next hearing is set for November 2, with the state government expected to present updated data on compliance and census details. The court intends to scrutinise this information closely to assess progress in sterilisation, vaccination, and other measures aimed at managing the stray dog population and addressing dog-bite incidents.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share