In cities across the country, the feral animals are both loved and feared. The judges are forging into intensely emotional territory by going after the ones in the capital.

India's top court ordered authorities in the capital Delhi and its suburbs on Monday to relocate all stray dogs to shelters within eight weeks, according to the Live Law website, after media reports of a rise in cases of rabies,

While Justice JB Pardiwala had passed the order for relocation of all stray dogs to shelters, petitioners have argued there was an earlier apex court order in 2024 where petitions relating to stray dogs were relegated to the high courts.