The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has indicated it may ask the Tamil Nadu government to implement the Supreme Court’s recent directives on managing stray dogs, similar to those issued for Delhi.

The observation came during a hearing on multiple petitions concerning stray animals — including cases on street dogs, stray cattle, and complaints about dogs entering a temple and biting devotees, sparking fears of rabies.

Petitioners presented data claiming that Tamil Nadu has already recorded 3.67 lakh dog bite cases and 20 rabies-related deaths in 2025. The Bench said it would review the Supreme Court’s detailed order before issuing combined directions for the state.

The possibility of a court-mandated policy has triggered mixed responses. Animal rights advocates warned that the state lacks adequate facilities, trained personnel, and veterinary resources to manage the issue humanely. They urged authorities to strengthen the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, which focuses on sterilisation and vaccination, instead of taking harsh measures that could harm street dogs.

On the other hand, several residents and civic activists supported the move, stressing that public safety must take priority. They cited the growing number of attacks and the absence of coordinated rabies control in many districts as reasons for urgent intervention.

The High Court is expected to issue final directions after examining the Supreme Court’s ruling, which could lead to state-wide guidelines covering sterilisation drives, municipal responsibilities, shelter management, and public awareness measures.

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