The Supreme Court of India, in a significant development on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, strongly indicated that it may impose liability on both civic authorities and individuals who feed stray dogs for any injury or death caused by stray dog attacks. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria made these oral observations during an ongoing suo motu case concerning the pervasive stray dog issue across the country. Justice Nath specifically remarked that for every dog bite, death, or injury to children or the elderly, the Court is likely to fix heavy compensation on the State for failing to implement proper animal control measures. The bench questioned why stray dogs are allowed to "loiter around, bite and scare" people, urging those concerned about stray dogs to take them into their homes. Justice Mehta further queried who should be held accountable if a child is attacked, suggesting that organizations feeding dogs in public places should also bear responsibility. The Court expressed its displeasure over the apparent failure of municipal authorities and states to effectively implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, over the past five years. The judges clarified that while they are not seeking to dilute the ABC Rules or order the indiscriminate removal of all stray dogs, they are demanding accountability for prolonged non-compliance with statutory mandates. This strong stance from the apex court underscores the seriousness with which it views the public safety concerns arising from stray dog attacks and signals potential landmark directions for dog management in India. The next hearing for this matter is scheduled for January 20, 2026.