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.

The Supreme Court, in its August 11 order, issued guidelines ensuring the humane treatment of stray dogs relocated to shelters, emphasising adequate care and the creation of new facilities over the coming weeks.

The Supreme Court has ordered all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to be rounded up and relocated to shelters, directing authorities to create pounds and not release the animals back onto the streets. The matter has been referred to a three-judge bench,