Explainer · Updated October 2026
Stray dog feeding rules in India: what the law, the Supreme Court and your society allow in 2026
Feeding stray dogs is legal in India, but since the Supreme Court order of 22 August 2025 it must happen at designated feeding spaces, not on streets. Under Rule 20 of the ABC Rules, 2023, societies and local bodies must agree feeding spots away from play areas, gates and staircases. Delhi's MCD had identified 735 feeding points across its 250 wards by January 2026, about 2.9 per ward.
Key findings
- Rule 20 of the ABC Rules, 2023 makes RWAs, apartment associations or the local body responsible for arranging feeding of community animals.
- Rule 20 sets a 7-member Animal Welfare Committee to settle feeding disputes, with appeals to the State Animal Welfare Board.
- On 22 August 2025 the Supreme Court ordered dedicated feeding spaces in every municipal ward and said feeding on streets shall not be permitted.
- Delhi's MCD reported 292 feeding points in late 2025, but a Tribune check found only 14 working, or 4.8%.
- By January 2026 the MCD had identified 735 feeding points across all 250 wards, 2.5 times the earlier count.
- In November 2025 the AWBI let district animal husbandry officers reject feeder authorisation requests, citing the Supreme Court's limits on public feeding.
- Since 19 May 2026, groups that feed dogs inside schools or colleges must first file an affidavit accepting liability for bites.
- Of 16 foods often given to street dogs that we rate, 10 carry a caution verdict and 2 are unsafe, including cooked chicken bones.
Is feeding stray dogs legal in India in 2026?
Yes, feeding is legal, but where you feed now matters. The Supreme Court's order of 22 August 2025 says municipal bodies must create dedicated feeding spaces in each ward. It adds that under no condition shall feeding of stray dogs on the streets be permitted.
So the rule has two halves. You may feed community dogs at a designated spot marked with a board or gantry. You may not feed them on roads, footpaths or other public streets.
The Court's judgment of 19 May 2026 kept these orders in force and added a rule for campuses. In schools and colleges, a group may feed dogs only after filing an affidavit with the head of the institution, accepting liability for any bite.
| Date | Instrument | What it says about feeding |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Feb 2014 | AWBI revised circular on pet and street dogs | No law prohibits feeding street animals; harassing feeders may be criminal intimidation |
| 3 Mar 2021 | AWBI advisory No. 6-2/2020-21/PCA to Delhi Chief Secretary and Police Commissioner | Identify enough feeding spots for stray dogs in every district; act on harassment of feeders |
| 24 Jun 2021 | Delhi High Court, Dr Maya D Chablani v Radha Mittal | Community dogs have a right to food; feeders must not harm or harass others |
| Mar 2022 | Supreme Court, Humane Foundation appeal | Operation of the Delhi High Court judgment stayed (reported 5 Mar 2022) |
| 10 Mar 2023 | ABC Rules, 2023, Rule 20 | RWAs or local bodies set mutually agreed feeding spots and times |
| 20 Mar 2025 | BMC guidelines for feeders, RWAs and institutions | 27 points for Mumbai feeders, from hygiene to feeding times |
| 22 Aug 2025 | Supreme Court order, Suo Motu WP(C) 5/2025 | Ward feeding spaces; no feeding on streets; helpline for violations |
| 25 Nov 2025 | AWBI Executive Committee | District officers decide feeder (CACT) authorisation and may reject it |
| 27 Nov 2025 | AWBI SOP on dog bite prevention (letter AC-02017/22/2025-AWBI) | Feeding protocols, waste management and public awareness, as the Supreme Court later summarised it |
| 19 May 2026 | Supreme Court judgment | Campus feeding only with a liability affidavit; ward feeding spaces in compliance format |
Older circulars and the 2021 Delhi High Court judgment are still cited by feeders and RWAs. Where they conflict with the 2025 and 2026 Supreme Court orders, the Supreme Court orders prevail. The full case history is in our Supreme Court stray dogs order tracker.
What does Rule 20 of the ABC Rules, 2023 say about feeding in a society?
Rule 20 was notified on 10 March 2023 as part of the Animal Birth Control Rules (G.S.R. 193(E)). It puts the duty on the Resident Welfare Association, the Apartment Owner Association or the local body's representative. They must arrange feeding of community animals with the residents who feed them.
The rule is specific about where and when. Feeding spots must be mutually agreed, sized to the local dog population and kept far from children's play areas, entry and exit points and staircases. Feeding times must avoid the hours when children and older people use the area.
| Sub-rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 20(1) | RWA, AOA or local body arranges feeding, involving residents who feed |
| 20(1)(i) | Mutually agreed feed spots, away from play areas, entry and exit points and staircases |
| 20(1)(ii) | Feeding times set around the movement of children, older people and sports |
| 20(1)(iii) | Designated feeder ensures no littering and follows the society's guidelines |
| 20(1)(iv) | Designated feeders may volunteer for vaccination, catching and release |
| 20(2) | Disputes go to an Animal Welfare Committee whose decision on the feeding point is final |
| 20(3) | Appeal against the committee goes to the State Animal Welfare Board, whose decision is final |
- Chief Veterinary Officer or a representative
- Representative of the jurisdictional police
- Representative of the District SPCA or State Board
- Representative of a recognised animal welfare organisation running ABC
- Veterinary officer deputed by the local authority
- The complainant
- Representative of the RWA, AOA or local body
These are the 7 members of the Rule 20(2) committee. It can also nominate a designated colony caretaker to feed the dogs in that area. For society disputes on pets and registration, see our dog laws for housing societies report.
What did the Supreme Court order on feeding stray dogs in August 2025?
The three-judge order of 22 August 2025 put the feeding rules in paragraph 33. Municipal bodies must start creating feeding spaces in every ward at once. The number and place of spaces should follow the population and concentration of dogs in that ward.
The Court gave its reason in the order. It cited reports of incidents caused by unregulated feeding and said feeding on roads creates great difficulty for people walking on streets.
| Para | Direction | Who it binds |
|---|---|---|
| 33(d) | Create or identify dedicated feeding spaces in each municipal ward | Municipal authorities |
| 33(d) | Put gantries or notice boards saying dogs shall only be fed there | Municipal authorities |
| 33(d) | No feeding of stray dogs on the streets under any condition | Everyone |
| 33(d) | Those feeding on streets can be proceeded against under the relevant law | Feeders |
| 33(e) | A dedicated helpline to report violations, with action on each report | Municipal authorities |
| 33(f) | Obstructing a public servant enforcing the order can be prosecuted | Everyone |
| 33(h) | Animal lovers may adopt street dogs through the municipal body | Adopters |
The AWBI then tightened its own process. At its meeting of 25 November 2025 it moved colony animal caretaker authorisation to the district Chief Veterinary Officer or animal husbandry officer. That officer must decide within one month and may reject an application because the Supreme Court has restricted feeding in public places.
The same order made each dog lover and each NGO that had approached the Court deposit Rs 25,000 and Rs 2 lakh respectively within 7 days. Those who did not pay could not appear in the case again. The money goes to municipal infrastructure for stray dogs.
How many stray dog feeding points have Delhi and other cities set up?
Delhi has the most detailed public numbers. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi first reported 292 feeding points across 80 wards. A ground check by The Tribune, published on 9 November 2025, found only 14 of them working with boards.
By 13 January 2026 the MCD Standing Committee had identified 735 feeding points across all 250 wards. That is about 2.9 points per ward. Officials said boards were still being installed, and no updated count of working points has been published.
Bengaluru's new city corporations began marking spots in February 2026. The Central corporation designated 90 feeding spots across its 43 wards. A local news site reported 150 in the East corporation and 70 in the North, for 310 across three of the five corporations.
Sources: The Tribune, 9 November 2025 (292 identified, 14 working) and 13 January 2026 (735 identified). Working count for January 2026 not published.
Show the numbers
| Label | feeding points |
|---|---|
| Identified, late 2025 | 292 |
| Working with boards, Nov 2025 | 14 |
| Identified, Jan 2026 | 735 |
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As reported by The Tribune, 9 November 2025. The 11 zones listed add up to 276 of the 292 points reported; the article does not list the rest.
Show the numbers
| Label | feeding points |
|---|---|
| West | 60 |
| Najafgarh | 54 |
| Shahdara South | 40 |
| Keshav Puram | 29 |
| Rohini | 29 |
| South | 16 |
| Karol Bagh | 15 |
| Shahdara North | 15 |
| Sadar Paharganj | 8 |
| Civil Lines | 6 |
| Central | 4 |
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Mixed status: Delhi, Chhattisgarh and Bengaluru are identified, Noida and Patna are planned, Mira-Bhayandar is a first phase. Bengaluru covers 3 of 5 corporations: Central 90 (Awaz The Voice), East 150 and North 70 (NewsFirst Prime), February 2026. Sources and dates in the table below.
Show the numbers
| Label | feeding points |
|---|---|
| Chhattisgarh (state) | 2,593 identified |
| Noida | 1,500 planned |
| Delhi (MCD) | 735 identified |
| Bengaluru (3 of 5 corporations) | 310 identified |
| Patna | 75 planned |
| Mira-Bhayandar | 20 in phase 1 |
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What are the feeding point rules and fines in Delhi, Mumbai, Noida and other cities?
Cities are at very different stages. Some have counted and marked spots, some have only announced plans, and some have no public count. The table lists what we could confirm, with the date of each figure.
Fines are rare and local. Mira-Bhayandar near Mumbai set a fine of up to Rs 5,000 for feeding outside designated spots in 2026. Chandigarh's 2025 dog bye-laws carry fines from Rs 500 to Rs 10,000 for violations.
| City or state | Feeding points | Status | As of | Fine or note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi (MCD) | 735 | Identified across 250 wards | Jan 2026 | Boards being installed; 14 of 292 working in Nov 2025 |
| Chhattisgarh (state) | 2,593 | Identified, per affidavit | Jun 2026 | Reported to the Chhattisgarh High Court |
| Bengaluru (East, Central, North) | 310 | Identified, signboards installed | Feb 2026 | Central 90 across 43 wards; South and West not reported |
| Noida | 1,500 | Planned, about Rs 3 crore | Sep 2025 | Inside and outside societies |
| Patna | 75 | Planned, one per ward | Feb 2026 | Helpline 0612-2200634 |
| Mira-Bhayandar | 20 | First phase, up to about 40 | Sep 2026 | Fine up to Rs 5,000 outside designated spots |
| Chandigarh | Not published | Identification started | Nov 2025 | Bye-law fines Rs 500 to Rs 10,000 |
| Gurugram | None approved | RWAs asked to propose spots | Feb 2024 | No RWA list received at the time |
| Mumbai (BMC) | Not published | Guidelines in force | Mar 2025 | Spots away from play areas, garden gates and staircases |
If your ward has no marked spot, ask the municipal ward office or the dog helpline that the Supreme Court order requires. Inside a society, the Rule 20 process still applies: agree a spot with the RWA, and take disputes to the Animal Welfare Committee.
Can you feed stray dogs in schools, hospitals or railway stations?
Mostly no. The Supreme Court's order of 7 November 2025 requires stray dogs to be removed from schools, colleges, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands and railway stations. After sterilisation and vaccination they go to shelters, not back to the campus.
The judgment of 19 May 2026 dealt with campus feeders directly. Any animal welfare group or student body feeding dogs inside an educational institution must file an affidavit with the head of the institution, accepting tortious liability. Without that affidavit, no maintaining or feeding of stray dogs is allowed on the premises.
| Place | Feeding allowed? | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Designated ward feeding space with a board | Yes | SC order, 22 Aug 2025 |
| Public street, road or footpath | No | SC order, 22 Aug 2025 |
| Agreed spot inside a housing society | Yes, at agreed spots and times | ABC Rules 2023, Rule 20 |
| Society play area, gate or staircase | No | ABC Rules 2023, Rule 20(1)(i) |
| School or college campus | Only with a liability affidavit to the head of institution | SC judgment, 19 May 2026 |
| Hospital, stadium, bus stand, railway station | No; dogs are to be removed | SC order, 7 Nov 2025 |
| Your own home or premises | Yes | No rule bars it |
The Court also accepted the AWBI SOP's wider list of high-footfall places, such as religious sites, parks and tourist spots. States must decide whether to extend the removal rules to such places, under the May 2026 judgment.
What should you feed stray dogs, and what should you avoid?
The law says where to feed, not what to feed. Mumbai's BMC guidelines are the most specific civic rules we found. They ask feeders to avoid raw or uncooked meat, use biodegradable plates, clean up after feeding and avoid feeding two packs at once.
Food choice matters for the dogs too. We checked 16 foods that people often give street dogs against our food safety verdicts. Ten carry a caution verdict, four are safe and two are unsafe.
Selection of 16 foods by dogeats.in. Verdicts are general guidance from our food pages, not veterinary advice for a specific dog.
Show the numbers
| Label | foods |
|---|---|
| Caution | 10 foods |
| Safe | 4 foods |
| Unsafe | 2 foods |
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| Food | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Plain boiled eggs | Safe | Complete protein; serve plain |
| Plain cooked chicken (no bones) | Safe | Good protein source |
| Mutton | Safe | Protein and iron; serve plain, cooked |
| Plain moong dal khichdi | Safe | Gentle when made without salt, spice or tadka |
| Roti | Caution | Plain and occasional only; never spiced or oily |
| Dal rice | Caution | Fine plain; tempered dal with onion or garlic is not |
| Curd rice | Caution | Plain is gentle; tempering adds salt and chilli |
| Bread | Caution | Tiny amounts; no nutritional value |
| Milk | Caution | Most dogs are lactose intolerant |
| Parle-G | Caution | Sugar and refined wheat; one or two at most |
| Marie biscuit | Caution | Refined flour; occasional half-biscuit |
| Rusk | Caution | Sugary baked bread; small piece, rarely |
| Biryani | Caution | Onion, garlic, ghee and garam masala are unsafe |
| Vada pav | Caution | Chilli, garlic chutney and salt |
| Samosa | Unsafe | Onion, chilli, masala and deep frying |
| Cooked chicken bones | Unsafe | Splinter; choking and internal injury |
Read the full pages for roti, Parle-G, milk and chicken bones. Our Indie dog feeding guide covers portions for Indian community dogs. If a dog you feed looks unwell, call a vet or a local animal welfare group.
What is the penalty for feeding stray dogs on the street, and what if neighbours object?
There is no single national fine. The Supreme Court order says street feeders can be proceeded against under the relevant legal framework, and that anyone obstructing officials can be prosecuted. Actual fines come from city bye-laws, such as Mira-Bhayandar's Rs 5,000 limit.
Harassment runs both ways. The AWBI's 2014 circular said interfering with or harassing people who feed community dogs may amount to criminal intimidation. Cruelty to animals remains an offence under Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
| Situation | What applies | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Feeding on a public street | Action under the relevant law; complaint to the municipal helpline | SC order, 22 Aug 2025 |
| Obstructing officials enforcing the order | Prosecution for obstructing a public servant | SC order, 22 Aug 2025 |
| Feeding outside designated spots, Mira-Bhayandar | Fine up to Rs 5,000 | MBMC order, 2026 |
| Dog bye-law violations, Chandigarh | Fines from Rs 500 to Rs 10,000 | Chandigarh MC bye-laws, 2025 |
| Society dispute over a feeding spot | Animal Welfare Committee decides; appeal to State Board | ABC Rules 2023, Rule 20 |
| Harassing a feeder | May be criminal intimidation, per AWBI | AWBI circular, 2014 |
| Feeding inside a campus without an affidavit | Not permitted; action against the head of institution | SC judgment, 19 May 2026 |
Feeding points also help with sterilisation, since fed dogs are easier to catch. Under Rule 20, designated feeders may volunteer for vaccination, catching and release. Our ABC sterilisation coverage tracker shows how far cities are from the coverage that controls numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Is feeding stray dogs illegal in India?
No. Feeding is legal, but since the Supreme Court order of 22 August 2025 it must happen at designated feeding spaces, not on public streets. Inside housing societies, Rule 20 of the ABC Rules, 2023 lets residents feed at spots and times agreed with the RWA.
Can an RWA stop me from feeding stray dogs in my society?
Under Rule 20, the RWA must arrange feeding with the residents who feed, at mutually agreed spots away from play areas, gates and staircases. If you cannot agree, a 7-member Animal Welfare Committee decides the feeding point. Its decision can be appealed to the State Animal Welfare Board.
What are the stray dog feeding rules in Delhi?
In Delhi you should feed only at MCD designated feeding points, which carry a board. The MCD had identified 735 points across 250 wards by January 2026. Feeding on roads is not permitted under the Supreme Court order of 22 August 2025.
What is the fine for feeding stray dogs on the road?
There is no national fine amount. The Supreme Court said violators can be proceeded against under the relevant legal framework, so fines depend on local rules. Mira-Bhayandar, for example, set a fine of up to Rs 5,000 for feeding outside designated spots in 2026.
Can I feed stray dogs inside a school or college?
Only if your group files an affidavit with the head of the institution accepting tortious liability for any bite, under the Supreme Court judgment of 19 May 2026. Without it, feeding on the campus is not allowed. Hospitals, bus stands and railway stations must be cleared of stray dogs under the November 2025 order.
How do I find a designated feeding point near me?
Ask your municipal ward office or the dog helpline your civic body runs under the Supreme Court order. Feeding points must have a gantry or notice board saying dogs shall only be fed there. Cities publish counts but rarely full lists.
What should I feed street dogs?
Plain cooked food without onion, garlic, salt or spice is safest, such as boiled eggs, boneless cooked chicken or plain khichdi. Avoid cooked bones, samosa and spiced leftovers. Of 16 common street-feeding foods we checked, only 4 are rated safe without conditions.
Do I need permission to be a registered stray dog feeder?
The AWBI's colony animal caretaker authorisation now goes through the district Chief Veterinary Officer or animal husbandry officer. The officer must decide within one month and may reject an application, citing Supreme Court limits on public feeding. You can appeal to the State Animal Welfare Board or animal husbandry department.
Methodology and limitations
We read the primary texts: the ABC Rules, 2023 in the Gazette, the Supreme Court order of 22 August 2025 and the judgment of 19 May 2026. We also read the AWBI minutes of 25 November 2025 and the BMC guidelines approved on 20 March 2025. The 2014 AWBI circular is taken from a reproduction by Voice of Stray Dogs, as we could not find it on the AWBI site.
City feeding point counts come from civic bodies as reported by established newspapers, and from the Chhattisgarh chief secretary's affidavit recorded by the High Court on 20 July 2026. Ratios such as points per ward were computed by dogeats.in in Python. Food verdicts come from our own food safety pages, as of October 2026.
Sources
- Supreme Court of India: record of proceedings, 22 August 2025, Ward feeding spaces, ban on street feeding, helpline, obstruction
- Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 (G.S.R. 193(E), 10 March 2023), Rule 20 on feeding and the Animal Welfare Committee
- Supreme Court of India judgment of 19 May 2026 (2026 INSC 506), copy hosted by OpenCity, Campus feeding affidavit, compliance format item on feeding spaces
- Also consulted: AWBI: minutes of the 130th Executive Committee meeting, 25 November 2025, The Tribune, 13 January 2026, The Tribune, 9 November 2025, Chhattisgarh High Court order of 20 July 2026, WPPIL 34 of 2026, BMC Veterinary Health Department: guidelines for feeders, RWAs and institutions (approved 20 March 2025), AWBI advisory on feeding spots for stray dogs (3 March 2021), Free Press Journal, 3 September 2026, Daily Jagran, 25 September 2025, Patna Press, 20 February 2026, The Tribune, 16 November 2025, The Tribune, 22 February 2024, Verdictum, 5 March 2022, Voice of Stray Dogs: AWBI revised circular of 20 February 2014, reproduced, Delhi High Court order of 21 May 2025, Pratima Devi v MCD, Awaz The Voice, 28 February 2026, NewsFirst Prime, 27 February 2026, Supreme Court judgment of 19 May 2026 (official PDF), Supreme Court Observer, 22 June 2026, SCC Online, 22 August 2025.
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