New Delhi, August 13: Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai on Wednesday said he would examine the matter of community dogs after concerns were raised over conflicting Supreme Court orders on their management.

The issue was mentioned before a bench led by the CJI by advocate Nanita Sharma, who pointed out that two different benches of the apex court had issued varying directions. She cited an earlier order by Justices JK Maheshwari and Sanjay Karol, which prohibited the indiscriminate killing of canines and emphasised compassion for all living beings, and a recent directive by Justice JB Pardiwala’s bench ordering the removal of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to dedicated shelters within eight weeks, with a ban on their release back to the streets.

In May 2024, the Maheshwari bench had relegated petitions on stray dogs to the respective High Courts, reiterating that authorities must act within the mandate and spirit of existing legislation. That order stemmed from a petition by the NGO Conference for Human Rights (India), which challenged a Delhi High Court decision disposing of its PIL seeking sterilisation and vaccination of community dogs under the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules. The High Court had closed the matter in August 2023 after recording satisfaction with the authorities’ actions.

On August 11, however, the bench of Justices Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, acting suo motu on a media report about rising stray dog attacks, directed the removal of stray dogs from public areas. The court said no compromise could be made on public safety, warned of contempt proceedings against those obstructing the drive, and noted that children and the elderly were the most vulnerable to rabies from dog bites, calling the situation “disturbing and alarming.”