New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday raised serious safety concerns over the presence of stray dogs on roads, highways, and public spaces, observing that no one can predict when an animal may bite. A three-judge bench said “prevention is better than cure,” stressing that stray dogs can also cause road accidents even if they do not attack people.

Hearing the stray dogs case, the bench questioned the implementation of Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules issued in 2018, asking why the public should suffer due to lack of proper enforcement. The court remarked that roads, schools, and institutional areas should be kept clear of dogs to avoid risks to pedestrians and motorists.

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal suggested that aggressive dogs could be sterilised and released back into their areas, prompting a sharp response from the bench. Meanwhile, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said there should be a provision allowing Residents Welfare Associations to decide whether dogs should be permitted in gated communities. The matter has been posted for further hearing.