Overview
- A three-judge bench directed states and UTs to capture stray dogs found on institutional premises, sterilise and vaccinate them, then relocate them to designated shelters without returning them to the same locations.
- Governments must identify covered institutions within two weeks, secure premises and complete removal within eight weeks, file compliance reports in the same period, and return to court on January 13, 2026.
- Each institution must appoint a nodal officer, municipal bodies must conduct periodic inspections, hospitals must maintain anti‑rabies stocks, waste management must be tightened, and AWBI was tasked with uniform SOPs for institutional settings.
- The court also ordered coordinated drives to clear cattle and other animals from highways and major roads, assigning responsibilities to NHAI and state agencies, with 24/7 patrols and highway helplines to report stray animals.
- Chief secretaries were warned they will be held personally accountable for lapses, while animal‑welfare groups flagged conflicts with the CNVR model and highlighted likely shortfalls in shelter capacity and humane care.