- By Akansha Pandey
- Tue, 13 Jan 2026 02:02 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The menace of stray dogs is steadily rising in Delhi-NCR and various other cities across the country. Today, January 13, 2026, the Supreme Court delivered a significant verdict while hearing the matter once again. The Supreme Court bench issued an order mandating compensation for dog bites. Issuing a stern warning, the apex court stated that if a child or an elderly person is injured or killed due to a dog bite, the respective state governments will be liable to provide compensation.
'Take Them Home': Court’s Rebuke To Dog Feeders
During the proceedings, Justice Vikram Nath made strong observations, stating that those who feed the dogs would be held accountable for such incidents. Justice Nath remarked, "Do one thing, take the dogs to your homes. Why should they be left to wander around? This allows them to intimidate and bite people."
Bench Questions 'Selective Emotion' For Strays
The Supreme Court’s remarks came in response to arguments presented by Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy, who contended that the issue of stray dogs is an emotive subject. Rebuking this stance, the Court observed, "This emotion seems to be reserved only for the dogs." In response, Guruswamy clarified, "That is not the case; we are equally concerned about the people."
It is worth noting that in light of the increasing number of dog bite cases, the Supreme Court had previously issued an order on November 7, 2025, directing the removal of stray dogs from all educational institutions, hospitals, bus stands, sports complexes, and railway stations. Furthermore, the Court had directed that dogs should not be allowed entry into government and public spaces. This order by the apex court had faced opposition from several quarters.