After the country’s top court issued directives aimed at preventing stray dog attacks in public institutions, the Union Health Ministry has directed all central government ministries and departments to immediately review and ramp up safety measures across hospitals, educational institutions, railway stations, bus terminals, sports complexes and other campuses under their administrative control.
The ministry initiated an urgent communication with all ministries, saying it had been designated as the nodal ministry responsible for submitting a consolidated compliance affidavit on behalf of the Union Government before various High Courts (HCs).
Union Health Ministry
All ministries have been instructed to submit state-wise compliance reports by June 30, 2026, enabling the Centre to file a comprehensive status report before the courts by August 7, 2026.
Ministry emphasises public safety, prevention of dog attacks
The ministry said the exercise is aimed at ensuring that the ‘menace of stray dog attacks within institutional areas is curbed through effective preventive and administrative mechanisms.’ Furthermore, it underscored that the primary objective is to shield the fundamental right of life and safety of citizens, particularly vulnerable groups such as kids, students, patients and sportspersons.
The ministry thereafter sought detailed information from every department on the implementation of the Supreme Court’s directives, including the number of campuses secured through boundary walls, fencing, gates and other structural measures to prevent the entry of stray dogs.
Representative image
Authorities have also been directed to report how many institutions have been made completely free of stray dogs and whether each campus has appointed a nodal officer responsible for monitoring that stray animals do not enter or inhabit the premises.
Hospitals, schools and railway stations to be reviewed
The Health Ministry has directed ministries overseeing hospitals to confirm the availability of Anti-rabies Vaccine (ARV) and Anti-Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) at healthcare facilities run by departments such as Railways, Defence, Labour, Coal, Mines, Steel and Power. Educational institutions have also been told to report whether they are conducting awareness programmes for students and staff on safe behaviour around animals, first aid following bites and the appropriate reporting procedures.
Similarly, stadiums and sports complexes are required to indicate whether adequate security and ground staff have been deployed to prevent stray dogs from entering their premises, while railway authorities have been instructed to detail measures taken to secure stations and railway property.
Representative image
The Ministry has also sought insights on waste management systems designed to eliminate food sources that attract stray animals, along with details of quarterly inspection mechanisms and regular monitoring processes to ensure compliance.