Remove strays from public places, top court tells states

The Supreme Court on Friday directed all states and Union territories (UTs) to ensure the removal of stray dogs from educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus depots and railway stations, and ruled that they cannot be released back in the same places after sterilisation, in a move that animal activists said was counter to the amended Animal Birth Control norms of 2023, and which is likely to highlight the huge shortage of shelters that will now be needed to house these animals.

- Utkarsh Anand

Terming the rise in dog bite incidents in public spaces a "matter of human safety concern", the court said permitting their return "would frus