On January 20, 2026, the Supreme Court stressed it is serious about holding dog feeders accountable for dog bite incidents. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria made this clear after advocate Prashant Bhushan said he thought the Court’s earlier remarks were sarcastic. Justice Nath clarified, "The comment was not made sarcastically but on a serious note." Bhushan noted some people are attacking feeders based on these oral observations. Justice Mehta added the remarks were part of a dialogue during hearings. Senior advocate Raju Ramachandran urged caution, saying, "These proceedings are televised. There is a duty on both the Bar and the Bench to be circumspect." Justice Nath replied, "We are restraining ourselves from making comments which would otherwise have been made." The court earlier indicated it might impose heavy penalties on States for dog bites and hold feeders responsible if attacks cause serious harm. The judges said feeders should keep the dogs within their homes. Bhushan highlighted that sterilisation programs in some cities failed due to poor accountability, while others like Lucknow and Goa saw success. He stressed the need for transparent systems to report unsterilised stray dogs. During submissions for former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi, the Bench called some remarks by her "contemptuous" and said, "Your client has committed contempt," but refrained from initiating proceedings out of "magnanimity." Ramachandran said politicians can make wide public statements but lawyers and judges have a higher standard. He emphasized the need for rabies control and animal birth control to manage stray dog populations. Justice Mehta questioned the absence of any budget details related to these programs during Maneka Gandhi's tenure. Ramachandran said budget matters are policy decisions. The Court finished hearing on January 20 and will hear the Union government and States starting January 28. Previously on November 7, 2025, the Court ordered States to remove stray dogs from busy public institutions like schools, hospitals, and railway stations to protect public safety. The directions focus on high-risk areas and vulnerable groups like children and the elderly.