Stray Dog Case Made Me Famous Worldwide’: Justice Vikram Nath
New Delhi:
Supreme Court judge Justice Vikram Nath, known for his wit and candour both inside and outside the courtroom, has said that the much-debated “stray dog” case has unexpectedly made him famous in civil society across the globe.
Speaking at a regional conference on human-wildlife conflict organised by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Justice Nath reflected on how the case has shaped public perception of him beyond the legal fraternity. “For a long time, I have been known in the legal fraternity for my odd jobs, but I am also grateful to stray dogs for giving me recognition not only in this country but in the entire civil society across the world. And I am grateful to our Chief Justice for assigning me this case,” said Justice Nath, who is in line to become Chief Justice of India in 2027.
Justice Nath recalled that at a recent international summit, lawyers, including the head of a bar association, asked him about India’s stray dog issue. “I am also getting messages that, apart from dog lovers, dogs themselves are blessing me and sending best wishes,” he quipped, drawing laughter from the audience.
Supreme Court’s Stray Dog Order
On August 22, a special three-judge bench headed by Justice Nath modified an earlier August 11 order passed by another bench that had prohibited the release of captured stray dogs from shelters in Delhi and adjoining areas.
The Nath-led bench, also comprising Justices Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria, ruled that stray dogs could be sterilised, vaccinated, and then released back into the same localities from where they were picked up. However, the order made exceptions for rabid or aggressively behaving animals, which would not be released.
Calling the earlier directive “too harsh,” the bench adopted a more balanced approach, aiming to address both public safety concerns and animal welfare. The suo motu case had been initiated on July 28 following media reports of an alarming rise in stray dog attacks and rabies-related deaths, particularly among children in Delhi.
By modifying the earlier order, the Court attempted to strike a middle ground — ensuring measures to reduce stray populations while safeguarding humane treatment.
For Justice Nath, however, the case has had an unusual personal impact. What began as a sensitive legal challenge has, in his words, turned into a source of global recognition — and even blessings from “dogs themselves.”
