The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, one of the country’s premier academic institutions, has emerged at the centre of a growing debate over animal welfare after hundreds of students, faculty members, and campus residents protested against the removal of stray dogs from the Powai campus and started an online petition. An issue that originated as an administrative move to address safety concerns has slowly grown into a wider debate on coexistence, ethics, and legal boundaries in relation to stray animals in cities.
An online signature campaign has gained rapid momentum in the past week with over 300 students and staff arguing that removal of campus strays is against both humanitarian values and government-issued animal welfare guidelines. The petition pointed out that IIT Bombay has historically been a human\u2013animal environment where stray dogs are vaccinated, sterilised, and cared for by student-led animal welfare groups. Protestors say displacement will break this ecosystem and could result in cruelty since many shelters are not properly certified or equipped to handle animals.
The rallying point of the protest is a claim that a number of campus dogs, some of which have lived on the premises for years, are being forcibly relocated despite longstanding rules under Animal Birth Control, which prevent arbitrary removal of sterilized street dogs from their adopted territories. Relocation, according to this protesting group, frequently results in the animals facing starvation, injury, or death due to territorial conflicts in new, unfamiliar areas. They further state that the sudden disappearance of recognizable dogs leads to an influx of new, unsterilized dogs, which, in turn, may exacerbate the very issues the administration is said to be addressing.
Safety concerns, however, have been cited by the institute’s administration, with growing complaints of aggressive behavior from some of the dogs, including incidents where residents said they felt threatened. IIT Bombay authorities have reportedly been in discussion with NGOs and local municipal bodies to implement solutions that ensure both human safety and animal welfare. Regardless, students maintain that the current solution in place-relocation-neither works on a sustainable basis nor is humane. Instead, they would strengthen campus programs already in place for feeding, vaccinations, behavioral monitoring, and mediation between residents and the animals.
This is one protest that has not remained confined within the campus walls. Social media platforms like Instagram and X also witnessed widespread student activism in support of the strays, with the hashtag #SaveIITBStrays gaining momentum. Alumni from all over the world have also joined in to express solidarity by sharing their memories of friendly campus dogs, an integral part of life in IIT Bombay. Some go so far as to chip in monetarily for animal food, sterilisation programs, and community awareness campaigns.
Legal experts and animal rights activists have also intervened, asserting that the AWBI and the Supreme Court have issued clear orders stating that sterilized stray dogs should not be removed or relocated. They say any action in violation of the rules under ABC is unlawful, unless there is a documented grave risk to human life. They are of the view that institutions like IIT Bombay need to collaborate with certified organizations for the purpose of adhering to national guidelines.
The campus community is now demanding a transparent dialogue with the administration. Students propose a joint committee comprising institute officials, animal welfare groups, and student representatives that will work out a long-term plan on coexistence. They suggested awareness workshops for residents, training programs for campus guards, and designated feeding zones to reduce territorial behavior among dogs.
The protest at IIT Bombay mirrors a larger, national debate about how educational institutions should deal with urban wildlife, particularly in cities like Mumbai, where stray dogs are there to stay. It also underlines the growing sensitivity among young Indians toward animal rights and ethical governance. As the petition continues to garner signatures, the pressure on the administration to reconsider relocation as a solution is mounting.
For now, the campus is in cautious anticipation. Students hope their voices will be heard and that IIT Bombay will set an example for humane, progressive policies regarding community animals. Whether the administration decides to revise its stance or pursue relocation under stricter guidelines, the developments at IIT Bombay are positioned to influence how universities across the country strike a balance between campus safety and compassion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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