• India's Supreme Court modified its stray dog policy in response to public protests.
• Stray dogs will now be released after sterilisation and immunisation rather than moved to shelters.
• Critics highlighted limitations on infrastructure for sheltering the dogs.
• The new policy aims to establish a national guideline for managing stray dogs.
• Public feeding of stray dogs is limited to designated zones to manage welfare effectively.

India's Supreme Court revised its earlier order on the management of stray dogs, directing that those picked up from streets in and around Delhi should be released after sterilisation and immunisation instead of being moved to shelters. This change comes after robust protests from animal welfare groups, which argued against the initial ruling due to the lack of adequate shelter infrastructure for the increasing stray dog population, estimated at one million in Delhi alone, according to Reuters, Reuters, and South China Morning Post.

The court's decision on Friday confirmed that dogs previously picked up would be released after necessary medical procedures, barring those exhibiting aggressive behaviour or showing signs of rabies. This modification reflects growing concerns over public safety due to rising dog bite incidents, with approximately 430,000 cases reported within a single month earlier this year, as mentioned in Reuters, BBC, and Dawn.

This ruling also prohibits the public feeding of stray dogs outside designated areas, as part of broader efforts to manage their population and reduce rabies transmission risks. The court's latest order aims to establish a cohesive plan for dog management across India, with future policies anticipated to be uniform nationwide. Animal rights groups have applauded the ruling, encouraging individuals to adopt and support sterilisation initiatives, as per comments from Reuters and South China Morning Post.