SC takes suo motu notice of news over dog bite leading to rabies

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday took suo motu cognisance of a media report of dog bite incident leading to rabies, saying it contained some "alarming and disturbing figures".

A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan termed the news item published today in Delhi edition of English daily Times of India as "very disturbing and alarming".

The news report was about the death of a six-year-old girl, who was attacked by a rabid stray dog, in the national capital.

Taking cognisance of the news report, the bench said, "The news item contains some alarming and disturbing figures and facts."

It said every day, hundreds of dog bites were being reported in the city and on its outskirts, leading to rabies and ultimately, children and aged were falling prey to the dreadful disease.

"We take suo motu cognisance of this news item," the bench ordered.

It asked the apex court registry to register it as a suo motu petition in public interest.

"Let this order be placed along with the news report before the Chief Justice of India for appropriate orders," the bench said.

On July 15, while hearing a separate plea alleging harassment over feeding of community dogs in Noida, the apex court had asked the petitioner, "Why don't you feed them in your own house?" The top court told the petitioner's counsel, "We should leave every lane, every road open for these large hearted people? There is all space for these animals, no space for humans. Why don't you feed them in your own house? Nobody is stopping you."

The observations came in a plea arising out of a March 2025 order of the Allahabad High Court.

The petitioner claimed harassment and said she was unable to feed community dogs in line with the Animal Birth Control Rules.