SABU STEEPHEN vs UNION OF INDIA — T.C.(C) No. 1/2026
Case under 20P-environmental Laws Section XVI-A. Status: Pending.
CNR: SCIN010007212026
Filing Date
06-Jan-2026
Registration No
T.C.(C) No. 1/2026
Diary Number
721/2026
Order Date
19-May-2026
Document Type
Judgement - of Main Case
Last updated 05-Jun-2026
Acts & Sections
Petitioner(s)
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1.SABU STEEPHEN
Adv. BY COURTS MOTION
Respondent(s)
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1.UNION OF INDIA
Case History
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19-May-2026
Fixed Date by Court
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Vikram Nath and Hon'ble Mr. Justice Sandeep Mehta
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29-Jan-2026
Fixed Date by Court
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Vikram Nath, Hon'ble Mr. Justice Sandeep Mehta and Hon'ble Mr. Justice N.V. Anjaria
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28-Jan-2026
Fixed Date by Court
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Vikram Nath, Hon'ble Mr. Justice Sandeep Mehta and Hon'ble Mr. Justice N.V. Anjaria
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20-Jan-2026
Fixed Date by Court
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Vikram Nath, Hon'ble Mr. Justice Sandeep Mehta and Hon'ble Mr. Justice N.V. Anjaria
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13-Jan-2026
Fixed Date by Court
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Vikram Nath, Hon'ble Mr. Justice Sandeep Mehta and Hon'ble Mr. Justice N.V. Anjaria
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09-Jan-2026
Fixed Date by Court
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Vikram Nath, Hon'ble Mr. Justice Sandeep Mehta and Hon'ble Mr. Justice N.V. Anjaria
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08-Jan-2026
Fresh
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Vikram Nath, Hon'ble Mr. Justice Sandeep Mehta and Hon'ble Mr. Justice N.V. Anjaria
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07-Jan-2026
First hearing
Initial hearing scheduled
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06-Jan-2026
Case filed
Registration No. T.C.(C) No. 1/2026
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[ 2026 INSC 506 ]
Judgement - of Main CaseView PDF
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[ 2025 INSC 1357 ]
Judgement - of Main CaseView PDF
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[ 2025 INSC 1018 ]
Judgement - of Main CaseView PDF
Common Record of Proceedings — heard with connected matters
Lead case: SMW(C) No. 5/2025
Summary of T.C.(C) No. 000001/2026: Sabu Steephen v. Union of India This case summary focuses on the current Transferred Case (T.C.) No. 000001/2026, though it appears to be associated with Suo Moto Writ Petition (Civil) No. 5/2025 titled "In Re: City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price" – a landmark public interest litigation concerning the stray dog menace in India. Current Status The case T.C.(C) No. 000001/2026 is listed for admission and is being taken up together with Suo Moto W.P.(C) No. 5/2025 and numerous related connected cases before the three-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria. Context: The Main Petition (W.P.(C) 5/2025) The Supreme Court took suo moto cognizance on July 28, 2025 based on a Times of India newspaper report about a 6-year-old girl (Chavi Sharma) who died of rabies after being attacked by stray dogs in Delhi. This sparked a comprehensive PIL addressing the crisis of stray dogs and dog-bite incidents across India. Key Issues & Orders Main Directions Issued (August 11, 2025): 1. Capture & Relocation: Municipal authorities must pick up stray dogs from all localities and relocate them to designated shelters/pounds 2. Infrastructure Creation: Government to create dog shelters/pounds within 8 weeks with capacity for at least 5,000 dogs 3. Non-Release Protocol: Captured dogs shall NOT be released back onto streets; exceptions only for sick dogs under proper care 4. Sterilization/Immunization: All dogs must be sterilized, dewormed, and vaccinated per Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 5. Helpline System: Municipalities to establish dedicated helplines for dog-bite complaints with 4-hour response time Modifications (August 22, 2025 – Three-Judge Bench): The three-judge bench modified the absolute non-release direction, allowing: - Release of sterilized, vaccinated dogs back to original localities (per ABC Rules framework) - Exception: Dogs with rabies, suspected rabies, or aggressive behavior must be retained in shelters - Designated Feeding Zones: Municipal authorities to create regulated feeding areas; street feeding prohibited - Deposit Requirements: NGOs must deposit Rs. 2,00,000 and individual dog lovers Rs. 25,000 with the court registry Compliance Timeline (November 26, 2025 Order): - Eight weeks from the order for Chief Secretaries of all States/UTs to file compliance affidavits indicating: - Steps taken to secure institutional premises (schools, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands, railway stations) - Mechanisms for regular oversight and municipal coordination - Availability of anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulins Current Hearing Status (January 29, 2026) Orders/Judgment RESERVED after comprehensive hearings with all States/UTs, NGOs, animal welfare organizations, and government agencies. The court has: - Called for brief notes from counsel within one week - Requested soft copies for record - Scheduled matters for further directions on January 13, 2026 Scope Expansion The Supreme Court has expanded this matter beyond Delhi-NCR to cover: - All States and Union Territories (except Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, which missed initial deadline) - Transferred similar pending matters from various High Courts to the Supreme Court - Appointed Mr. Gaurav Agrawal (Senior Advocate) as Amicus Curiae to prepare comprehensive compliance reports Institutional Focus (November 7, 2025) The court issued specific directions for preventing dog-bite incidents in: - Educational institutions (schools, colleges, universities) - Hospitals and medical colleges - Sports complexes and stadia - Railway stations and bus stands - Requirement for securing premises with adequate fencing/boundary walls within 8 weeks Key Statutory Framework All directions are issued in furtherance of: - Animal Birth Control This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.
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