Raj to form panel to address SC directive on stray dogs amid facility shortage

Jaipur: Rajasthan is planning to tighten stray dog management after the Supreme Court directed states to improve compliance and handling of the issue.The state govt is now setting up a committee to conduct a survey aimed at estimating how many stray dogs may need to be shifted from identified public spaces.Officials said a Delhi-based organisation is being considered to carry out the survey. The exercise is expected to help the state prepare a clearer implementation plan and respond to concerns over gaps in enforcement.Rajasthan had earlier been seen as one of the first states to adopt stray management measures after the Supreme Court’s previous directive on Nov 7, 2025. However, the state is now facing scrutiny over weak execution and limited preparedness on the ground.According to local self-govt department secretary Ravi Jain, district collectors and urban local body commissioners have already been instructed to identify land or shelters for setting up new facilities. The department has written to the finance department seeking budget approval for the proposed shelters.“In accordance with the order, we need to remove dogs only from public places, like railway stations, airports, or educational or government institutions, and not from residential colonies.

We have asked the commissioners and collectors to start the process with whatever infrastructure is presently available,” stated Jain.Despite the administrative push, officials and animal rights groups say the state currently lacks the infrastructure needed for effective implementation. Shortage of dog shelters and ABC (Animal Birth Control) centres remain a major concern.“In the late 90s, Bhutan adopted such a policy for a coronation ceremony.

I have seen the condition of dogs transferred from different areas kept in a single shelter. It is a natural phenomenon for dogs to fight over control of areas,” stated Sunil Chawla, a Jaipur-based vet who carried out ABC programme in Bhutan.Animal welfare advocates have warned against treating the issue only as a law-and-order challenge. Mariam Abuhaideri, founder of Ubuntu World Initiative and one of the intervening NGO parties in the Supreme Court matter concerning stray dogs, said the debate must remain balanced.“Public safety absolutely matters. No activist denies that. But sustainable public safety cannot come from fear-driven responses or vilification of one species. Rabies prevention is entirely achievable through mass vaccination,” she stated.