Supreme Court judge Justice Vikram Nath has said that the ongoing stray dog case has unexpectedly brought him recognition across civil society, both in India and abroad. Speaking at a regional conference on human-wildlife conflict in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, the judge remarked in a lighter tone that while he was earlier known largely within legal circles, the stray dog litigation has made his name familiar to a much wider audience.
“So far, I had been known in the legal fraternity for the little work I do, but I am thankful to the stray dogs for making me known to the entire civil society, not only in this country but world over,” Justice Nath said. He further expressed his gratitude to the Chief Justice of India for entrusting him with the matter.
Justice Nath recalled that during a recent international lawyers’ summit, several delegates questioned him about the stray dog issue, which made him realise the extent of attention the case had drawn. With humour, he added that apart from dog lovers, even dogs were “sending blessings and good wishes.”
The litigation came into focus after an August 11 order of a two-judge bench directed civic bodies in Delhi-NCR to collect stray dogs and keep them in shelters. Following protests from animal rights activists and in view of conflicting earlier rulings, the matter was reassigned by the CJI to a three-judge bench headed by Justice Nath.
On August 22, the bench comprising Justices Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria altered the previous directive, holding that stray dogs must be released back to their original locations after sterilisation, vaccination, and deworming. The ruling sought to strike a balance between public health concerns and the rights of animals.
The conference, organised jointly by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA), was attended by judges of the Supreme Court and various High Courts. Justice Nath also linked the debate on stray dogs to the broader public trust doctrine, emphasising that natural resources and living beings are to be preserved for present and future generations.
Justice Nath’s remarks, delivered with a touch of humour, reflected how a seemingly routine case can unexpectedly shape a judge’s public recognition well beyond the courtroom.
References
Bar & Bench. (2025, August 31). Stray dog case made me known to civil society world over; thankful to CJI for allotting it to me: Justice Vikram Nath. Retrieved from https://www.barandbench.com
LiveLaw. (2025, August 31). Justice Vikram Nath says stray dog case brought him global recognition, expresses gratitude to CJI. Retrieved from https://www.livelaw.in
Supreme Court of India. (2025). Order dated August 22, 2025 in stray dog matter. New Delhi: Supreme Court Registry.
