In a major step to address India’s growing stray animal crisis, the Supreme Court has directed all state governments and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to ensure the immediate removal of stray cattle and dogs from highways and motorways across the country. The court said this measure was vital to prevent road accidents and protect public health.

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria reaffirmed the earlier directions issued by the Rajasthan High Court and extended them to all states and union territories. “Public works departments, municipal authorities, and transport bodies must clear highways of stray animals and rehabilitate them in shelters,” the court ordered. It also asked each authority to set up dedicated highway patrol teams and helpline numbers for reporting stray animals on national highways.

Importantly, the Court directed that all government and private educational and health institutions must be fenced to prevent the entry of stray dogs. The states have been given two weeks to identify such institutions and ensure that boundaries are secured. The Court said the management of these institutions must appoint a nodal officer for maintenance and that local authorities should conduct inspections every three months.

The Supreme Court clarified that stray dogs picked up from institutional areas should not be released back into the same locations, noting that such practices defeat the purpose of regulation. States and Union Territories have been asked to file status and compliance affidavits within three weeks.

The directive follows widespread public concern over frequent stray dog attacks, traffic disruptions, and rising zoonotic disease risks. Earlier this year, another bench had ordered the Delhi municipal authorities to round up stray dogs, but that decision was later modified to allow sterilisation and vaccination instead of permanent sheltering.

Animal rights organisations, however, have criticised the latest move. PETA India called the directive “a recipe for cruelty and chaos,” arguing that rounding up millions of animals would be impractical and inhumane. The group estimates that India is home to 52.5 million stray dogs, 8 million animals in shelters, and 5 million abandoned cattle. PETA instead urged authorities to implement the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, and promote compassionate, science-based solutions such as sterilisation drives and vegan lifestyle adoption.

As states prepare compliance reports, experts believe the challenge lies in balancing public safety with animal welfare, ensuring humane handling, and building sustainable shelter infrastructure to manage India’s massive stray population responsibly.