An official government report indicated that Punjab recorded over 350,000 canine bite cases in 2025 alone, creating widespread panic in both residential and commercial sectors.
The Punjab government has announced a massive state-wide drive to eliminate dangerous and ill stray dogs that pose threat to citizens, commuters, and school-bound children.
Following the Supreme Court of India’s recent verdict, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann through his social media handles confirmed that the eradication campaign would commence across all municipalities immediately. The state’s aggressive step forward signals a sharp shift in handling the growing public safety crisis caused by stray animal attacks.
The legal framework established by the Supreme Court provides complete protection to municipal and government staff involved in the drive.
According to the apex court’s mandate, no First Information Reports (FIRs) or legal proceedings can be initiated against municipal officers or designated employees carrying out duties related to administering lethal injections to aggressive or diseased canines.
Conversely, the court has made it clear that any official who refuses to enforce these orders will face severe judicial consequences under the charges of contempt of court. This uncompromising directive aims to eliminate bureaucratic delays and ensure rapid implementation at the rooted level.
Public concern over stray dog populations has escalated significantly over the past year, supported by alarming health statistics. An official government report indicated that Punjab recorded over 350,000 canine bite cases in 2025 alone, creating widespread panic in both residential and commercial sectors.
While several animal welfare organizations and canine advocacy groups filed petitions attempting to block or reverse aggressive management actions, the Supreme Court prioritized human life and public safety, ruling that dangerous, rabid, or highly infectious street dogs could be injected using medical injections.
This development builds upon an earlier directive issued by the Supreme Court in November 2025, which ordered state governments to completely clear public infrastructure including schools, hospitals, bus terminals, and railway stations of stray animals.
The apex court had previously directed that captured strays be permanently moved to dedicated animal shelter homes rather than being re-released into residential blocks. Furthermore, restrictions were placed on feeding stray animals in unregulated public corridors, and the judiciary established joint liability for municipal corporations and private pet owners in cases involving severe injuries from dog attacks.
With the Punjab government officially launching this targeted drive, municipal teams are deploying across the state to handle high-risk zones.
