On 19th December, the Madhya Pradesh High Court directed the Indore Municipal Corporation to remove stray dogs from public places on priority, based on the 7th November order of the Supreme Court of India in the stray dog menace case. The court directed the authorities to hold a meeting before the next date, that is 13th January 2026, to prepare an action plan for the same. Furthermore, the corporation has been asked to submit data on the sterilisation of stray dogs before the next hearing.
During the hearing, when the state informed the court that 2.9 lakh dogs have been sterilised, the High Court asked for proof. The court said the numbers are largely on paper and warned that if no action is taken, it may order a probe.
The High Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the growing stray dog problem in the state. The matter is being heard by the division bench of Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice BK Dwivedi. The court stressed that the direction flows directly from binding Supreme Court orders on preventing dog related dangers in public spaces.
Court flags threat to children and pedestrians
The bench observed that tourist spots and prominent areas such as Chhappan Dukaan, Sarafa, MG Road and several residential colonies remain unsafe due to stray dogs. The court noted that children are unable to step out, play, or ride bicycles, which is affecting both safety and social development. The court added that night movement has become dangerous, with two wheelers colliding and dog packs attacking pedestrians.
Sterilisation claims questioned
During the hearing, the court turned to the municipal corporation’s claim that over 2.39 lakh dogs have been sterilised. The bench said these figures largely exist on paper and stated that visible ground realities contradict the data. The court said it has become hard to walk on the streets. It warned that if compliance remains absent, a judicial inquiry into the sterilisation drive and related expenditure will be ordered.
OpIndia is doing a series on the stray dog menace in India which can be checked here.
