The Animal Welfare Board of India too moved the court in the matter.
Holding that there was a need to strike balance between empathy for stray dogs and safety of humans, the Supreme Court on Wednesday permitted municipal bodies to kill irretrievably ill and wounded stray dogs suffering from rabies, in accordance with the laws.
"We are disposed to think for the present that a balance between compassion to dogs and the lives of human beings, which is called a glorious gift of nature, may harmoniously co-exist," Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh said.
"We would also request all the high courts not to pass any order relating to the 1960 Act and the 2001 Rules pertaining to dogs. Needless to say, all concerned as mentioned herein, shall carry out this order and file their respective affidavits as directed," the court said.
The court in the last hearing on October 26 had said: "These rules (Animal Birth Control Rules 2001) have not been declared unconstitutional. If rules are there, then they have to be followed, and any killing of dogs has to done according to the rules."
While seeking details from the states on the number of cases of dog bites, the court also sought details on the steps taken by them for the welfare of dogs.
The court order came during the hearing of a batch of petitions, including one by Anupam Tripathi contesting the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation (TMC) decision on mass culling of stray dogs.
The Animal Welfare Board of India too moved the court in the matter.
Mr Tripathi had moved the top court challenging the Kerala High Court order approving the municipal body's decision to cull stray dogs.
He had contended that the decision to cull stray dogs was against laws.