Kashmir’s stray dog crisis faces new ambiguity after SC order

Srinagar, May 19: The Supreme Court’s latest observations allowing authorities to euthanise“rabid, incurably ill, or demonstrably dangerous and aggressive” stray dogs has reignited debate about balance between human safety and animal welfare.

In Kashmir stray dog attacks are a persistent public concern and civic systems remain poorly equipped to manage the crisis.

In Srinagar and across Kashmir, residents report packs of dogs chasing pedestrians, attacking children, and making early morning or late evening movement difficult.

Official records over the years have reflected a steady stream of dog-bite cases.

However, animal welfare advocates warn that the Supreme Court’s remarks, though legally limited to aggressive or rabid animals and tied to veterinary assessment, could be misused given the animal birth control infrastructure is essentially non-functional.

For the past several months, no dogs have been ssterilised in Srinagar, with Commissioner Srinagar MunicipalCorporation (SMC), FazLulHaseeb promising ‘operationalising soon’.

The J&K government, in February this year, said in Assembly that SMC sterilised 15,266 dogs since 2018.

Detailing, it said, major sterilisation work was carried out in 2023 with 6964 sterilsations and in 2024 with 7546 sterilsations.

In August-September 2025, 935 sterilisationswere carried out.

Sterilisations have stopped since then at the official facility.

Other districts of Kashmir have non-functional Animal Birth Control programme.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said authorities may take “legally permissible” measures, including euthanasia for dogs that are rabid or demonstrably dangerous, subject to veterinary assessment and compliance with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and Animal Birth Control Rules.

The court also directed states and UTs to strictly implement measures to keep stray dogs away from “sensitive public spaces”.

It also warned the officials that they could face contempt proceedings for failing to comply with the directions.

J&K had figured in earlier proceedings and implementation discussions, due to its high stray dog population and dog-bite cases.

The SC acknowledged the “harsh realities” of increasing dog attacks.

It emphasised that citizens have a right to move freely in public spaces without fear.

However, with no Animal Welfare Board and rudimentary infrastructure for assessment, and confinement of animals in place in Kashmir, this rule is a “license to kill”, animal welfare activists believe.

Dog attacks are a reality in Kashmir, and many families have borne the brunt of aggressive animals.

With no government help in sight, many locals have also attacked dogs, brutally and in contravention with law.

Given the burgeoning population, and lack of measures to control population and set up infrastructure for stray animals, situation, many stakeholders feel, is set to get out of hand.

Parents in Kashmir are often seen escorting their children to school through streets where packs of dogs gather around garbage dumps.

In some neighbourhoods, residents say elderly people avoid stepping out before daylight.

“That gap between policy and infrastructure is now creating paradox,” many animal rights groups said.