NEW DELHI, AUG 22

The Supreme Court on Friday modified its 11 August direction that prohibited the release of stray dogs from dog shelters in Delhi-NCR. Here's a timeline of events leading to the top court directive:

28 July: SC takes suo motu cognisance of a media report of a dog bite incident leading to rabies in Delhi, saying it contained some "alarming and disturbing figures".

11 Aug: Noting "extremely grim" situation due to stray dog bites, particularly among children, a two-judge bench of SC directs authorities in Delhi-NCR to permanently relocate all strays from streets to shelters "at the earliest".

11-12 Aug: Widespread protests reported following the order.

13 Aug: "I will look into it," Chief Justice of India BR Gavai said when a plea relating to stray dogs was mentioned for urgent hearing in SC.

14 Aug: A three-judge special bench of SC said the "whole problem" of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR was a result of the "inaction" of local authorities, which did "nothing" in implementing the Animal Birth Control Rules on sterilisation and immunisation of canines.

The bench reserved its order on the interim prayer seeking a stay on some of the directions issued on 11 August.

22 Aug: SC's three-judge bench modifies August 11 direction prohibiting release of stray dogs from dog shelters in Delhi-NCR, and said the picked up canines should be sterilised, vaccinated and released back in the same area.