India's top court has ordered authorities to remove all stray dogs from the streets and place them in permanent shelters, sparking an uproar from animal-rights groups over the feasibility of a decision some say was made in anger.

India's top court ordered authorities in the capital Delhi and its suburbs on Monday to remove all stray dogs, following a rise in rabies cases, particularly among children.

On August 11, a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan observed that instances of dog bites had given rise to an 'extremely grim' situation and ordered the permanent relocation of all strays in Delhi-NCR 'at the earliest'.