The Supreme Court of India will announce its verdict on Friday regarding the relocation of stray dogs in the National Capital Region (NCR). The decision follows widespread criticism and protests from animal lovers and organizations over an earlier order mandating the permanent relocation of all strays to shelter homes.

A three-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria reserved the order on August 14 after hearing arguments from both sides. The controversy erupted after authorities reportedly began picking up stray dogs even before the previous order was made public.

Earlier, on August 11, the apex court expressed concern over the rising number of dog bite cases, calling the situation “extremely grim” and directing authorities to act urgently. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Delhi government, emphasized the seriousness of the issue, citing 37 lakh dog bite incidents reported last year. He stated, “Children are dying. Sterilisation does not stop rabies. The solution lies in separating dogs, not killing them.”

However, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for an animal rights group, argued against the relocation order, pointing out the lack of proper shelter facilities. He urged the court to stay its earlier directive until a detailed discussion is held on infrastructure and implementation.

The Supreme Court is now set to clarify its stance on the matter with a final order this Friday, amid the ongoing debate between public safety and animal welfare.