CASE COMMENT: IN RE: "CITY HOUNDED BY STRAYS; KIDS PAY PRICE"

The decision of the Supreme Court of India in In Re: "City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price" (2025) marks a significant development in Indian constitutional and animal welfare jurisprudence. The case arose from a Suo Motu cognizance of a newspaper report highlighting a fatal rabies incident involving a minor, which prompted the Court to address the growing menace of stray dog attacks in urban areas. The central issue before the Court involved reconciling the right to life and safety of citizens under Article 21 with the statutory protections afforded to stray animals under the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, framed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. While the earlier directions of the Court mandated large-scale confinement of stray dogs, the present judgment adopts a more balanced approach by modifying those directions to align with statutory mandates and practical feasibility. The Court emphasised proportionality, humane treatment, and administrative realism, while ensuring that public safety remains paramount. This case comment critically evaluates the Court's reasoning, its engagement with constitutional principles, and its broader implications for urban governance and animal welfare law in India.