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The Supreme Court connected Tuesday (January 20, 2026) said it was “serious” astir holding canine feeders accountable for wound incidents, adjacent arsenic carnal payment groups cautioned that the court’s oral observations were starring to “unfortunate” repercussions, including reported attacks connected feeders.
A Bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice N.V. Anjaria made the reflection aft advocator Prashant Bhushan, appearing for an intervener, submitted that helium had been nether the content that the Bench’s earlier remark connected fixing accountability connected canine feeders was made “sarcastically” and could truthful beryllium “misinterpreted”.
Not successful jest: judge
Justice Nath, however, clarified that the reflection was not made successful jest. “Although we bash not cognize what we volition bash successful this matter, the remark was not made sarcastically but connected a superior note. It was made successful the people of a dialog during the hearing,” helium said.
This prompted Mr. Bhushan to apprise the tribunal that portion oral exchanges betwixt judges and lawyers were commonplace, definite adverse remarks could person tangible repercussions connected the ground. He pointed retired that individuals were relying connected specified oral observations to warrant attacks connected canine feeders.
“Sometimes, the remarks of the tribunal could pb to unfortunate consequences. Feeders are being beaten up, and radical are taking refuge nether these remarks,” helium told the Bench.
At this point, Justice Mehta further clarified that the oral remarks were made arsenic portion of a dialog with a counsel. “These remarks were made during oral arguments, successful the people of a dialog with a counsel. It does not marque immoderate difference,” helium said.
Senior advocator Raju Ramachandran, who was besides contiguous successful the courtroom, past intervened to constituent retired that some the Bench and the Bar had a work to workout restraint, fixed the wide publicity of the proceedings. “As a elder subordinate of the Bar, I privation to accidental that these proceedings are televised. There is simply a work connected some the Bar and the Bench to beryllium circumspect,” helium said.
We are restrained: judge
Acknowledging the request for caution successful presumption of the quality of the proceedings, Justice Nath, who was heading the Bench, said: “We are restraining ourselves from making comments which would different person been made successful this matter.”
Earlier, the apical tribunal had indicated that it was inclined to enforce “heavy compensation” connected States for each canine wound incidental portion besides fixing accountability connected canine feeders successful cases wherever attacks effect successful superior oregon “lifelong” consequences. The judges had besides orally remarked that those feeding specified stray canines ought to presume work by keeping the animals wrong their homes oregon premises.
Apprising the tribunal of imaginable interventions to trim incidents of canine bites, Mr. Bhushan submitted that sterilisation programmes had not been implemented efficaciously successful large cities owing to inadequate accountability mechanisms. He pointed retired that portion sterilisation efforts had failed successful immoderate cities, they had yielded results successful others, specified arsenic Lucknow and Goa.
“The mode to marque sterilisation effectual is to guarantee transparency and accountability. There should beryllium a strategy done which radical tin study stray dogs that look to beryllium unsterilised. Such complaints should beryllium recorded connected a designated platform, with intelligibly identified authorities liable for responding to them,” helium said.
Bench flags ‘contemptuous remarks’ by Maneka Gandhi
As Mr. Ramachandran began his submissions connected behalf of erstwhile Union Minister Maneka Gandhi, the Bench expressed beardown disapproval of definite remarks attributed to his client. The judges orally observed that the statements were directed against the court’s earlier directions and were “contemptuous” successful nature.
“A small portion ago, you were urging the tribunal to beryllium circumspect. Have you examined the benignant of remarks your lawsuit has been making? She has made each kinds of remarks without adjacent thinking... Your lawsuit has committed contempt,” the Bench said.
The judges, however, added that they were refraining from initiating contempt proceedings against the erstwhile Union Minister, connected relationship of their “magnanimity”.
Mr. Ramachandran past said that helium would refrain from addressing his client’s remarks, arsenic nary contempt proceedings had been initiated against her. He added, however, that portion politicians were entitled to marque a wide scope of nationalist statements, lawyers and judges were held to a antithetic standard.
“I americium representing a cause. Lawyers and judges run connected a antithetic level from politicians. Be that arsenic it may,” helium said.
Mr. Ramachandran past proceeded to underline the value of rabies power programmes and carnal commencement power measures successful addressing the increasing colonisation of stray dogs and related wound incidents.
Addressing these submissions, Justice Mehta questioned the lack of immoderate notation to budgetary allocations successful the petition. “Your lawsuit has been a Union Minister, a long-standing parliamentarian and a well-known carnal rights activist. Tell america wherefore the exertion is soundless connected budgetary allocations made during her tenure. What has been her publication to addressing these issues?” the justice asked.
Mr. Ramachandran replied that helium was incapable to reply the query orally since budgetary allocations were a substance of policy.
The Bench concluded proceeding submissions from the petitioners connected Tuesday (January 20, 2026) and posted the substance for further proceeding connected January 28 erstwhile it is expected to statesman proceeding arguments from the Union authorities and the States.
Earlier, connected November 7, 2025, the tribunal had ordered each States and Union Territories to guarantee removal of stray dogs from high-footfall nationalist institutions, including acquisition institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, autobus depots and railway stations. Terming the emergence successful canine wound incidents a substance of “human information concern”, the judges had ruled that re-releasing them would “frustrate the precise effect” of securing specified organization spaces.
The tribunal has consistently maintained that its directions connected the removal of stray dogs are constricted to high-footfall, high-risk organization areas and are intended to support susceptible groups, including children and the elderly.
