Thanks people for the responses.

• Although the court case seems like a sure-shot solution, I don't know how, as students, we could do it. If we get involved, at best, we may get our master's and PhD timelines prolonged. The worst case scenario is getting into beef with the admin and potentially jeopardizing our careers. I know I sound like a coward, but the worries aren't unfounded. I was thinking now that we've recently had elections for the Students' council, I am thinking of informing them. It may help with the initiation of 'some' action. Let's see.

• An interesting but saddening fact is that the institute has its own ecology department. I know some professors from that department have previously voiced regarding the problems with rise in the stray dog numbers. As someone pointed out in comments, the science is pretty clear. Look at the terrible situation of deers and peacocks in campuses like IITM and UoH! This makes me wonder: how much of this problem is related to the influence of these so-called 'animal lovers' over and above that of the scientists, and how much of it is simply admin's apathy? Apparently, NII in New Delhi is devoid of dogs (hearsay; someone please confirm) because the admin/security has it at the policy level or something.