MONIKA MITTAL vs UNION OF INDIA — T.C.(C) No. 51/2026

SUMMARY: T.C.(C) No. 51/2026 - MONIKA MITTAL v. UNION OF INDIA CASE STATUS: This Transferred Case (T.C.) is consolidated with SUO MOTO WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 5/2025 titled "CITY HOUNDED BY STRAYS, KIDS PAY PRICE" CORE ISSUE: The case addresses the escalating menace of stray dog attacks, particularly focusing on: - Rising dog bite incidents (37,15,713 cases reported in India in 2024; 25,201 in Delhi alone) - Deaths from rabies following dog bites - Dangers to children, elderly, and vulnerable populations - Public safety on streets and in institutional areas KEY ORDERS AND DIRECTIONS ISSUED: ORDER DATED 22 AUGUST 2025 (Three-Judge Bench) The Court supplemented, modified and clarified earlier directions by: 1. Capture and Sterilization: Municipal authorities to continue capturing stray dogs, sterilize, deworm, vaccinate and release back to original locations (with exceptions for rabid/aggressive dogs) 2. Exceptions: Dogs infected with/suspected of rabies or showing aggressive behavior shall NOT be released and be kept in separate shelters 3. Designated Feeding Zones: Municipal authorities must create dedicated feeding areas in each ward; feeding on streets prohibited 4. Institutional Areas: Comprehensive directions for securing educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus terminals, and railway stations from stray dogs 5. Infrastructure & Support: - Fencing/boundary walls for institutional premises (8 weeks) - Nodal Officers appointed for premises management - Quarterly municipal inspections - Mandatory anti-rabies vaccine stock in hospitals - Awareness sessions in schools - Security deployment in stadiums - Proper waste management at transport hubs 6. Animal Welfare Board: To issue SOPs within 4 weeks for dog management in institutional premises 7. Compliance Affidavits: All States/UTs to file detailed affidavits within 8 weeks on: - Securing institutional premises - Regular oversight mechanisms - Availability of anti-rabies vaccines 8. Non-Release Directive: Stressed that captured dogs should NOT be released back to original locations if doing so would frustrate the court's orders protecting institutional areas EARLIER ORDER DATED 11 AUGUST 2025 (Two-Judge Bench) This created the foundational directions requiring: - Immediate pickup of stray dogs from all localities - Creation of dog shelters/pounds for 5,000+ dogs within 6-8 weeks - Sterilization, deworming, immunization under Animal Birth Control Rules 2023 - CCTV monitoring at shelters - Helplines for reporting incidents (4-hour response time) - Treatment of dog bite victims - Vaccine availability information PART II: HIGHWAYS DIRECTIONS (Order dated 7 November 2025) Court reaffirmed/issued directions for removal of stray cattle and animals from: - State Highways - National Highways - National Expressways Key requirements: - Joint coordinated drives by authorities - 24/7 highway patrol teams - Helpline numbers at regular intervals linked to police/NHAI/district administration - Status affidavits within 8 weeks from Chief Secretaries and NHAI Chairperson --- NEXT DATE OF HEARING: 13 JANUARY 2026 EXPECTATIONS AT NEXT HEARING: 1. Compliance affidavits from all States/UTs on institutional area security 2. Animal Welfare Board's uniform SOPs for dog management 3. Sterilization and vaccination data 4. Availability reports on anti-rabies vaccines --- NOTABLE ASPECTS: ✓ Balanced Approach: Protects both human safety AND animal welfare (proper care, no starvation, veterinary care in shelters) ✓ Nationwide Scope: Extended beyond NCR to all States/UTs due to uniform application of Animal Birth Control Rules 2023 ✓ Institutional Focus: Special emphasis on schools, hospitals, sports venues, railway stations, bus terminals where vulnerable groups congregate ✓ Accountability: Fixed responsibility on This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.