“Can’t Create Horror”: Supreme Court’s Big Stray Dogs Order Challenged
"Can't Create Horror": Supreme Court's Big Stray Dogs Order Challenged
Three-judge bench reserves order on plea seeking stay; protests erupt over August 11 directive
The Supreme Court today reserved its order on an interim plea challenging its earlier directive to remove all stray dogs from Delhi NCR and relocate them to shelter homes. The matter, heard by a bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta, and Justice NV Anjaria, followed widespread protests and criticism from animal rights groups, politicians, and citizens.
The controversy began after an August 11 order by a two-judge bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan directed authorities to round up stray dogs from residential areas. Even before the order was made public, civic bodies in several parts of Delhi NCR began removing animals from the streets.
During the hearing, Justice Nath sharply criticised civic authorities for failing to implement existing animal control laws. “Parliament frames rules and laws, but they are not implemented. On one hand, humans are suffering, and on the other hand, the animal lovers are here,” he observed.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Delhi government, cited alarming public safety concerns, noting over 37 lakh dog bite cases reported annually in India. He argued that sterilisation alone cannot prevent rabies, stressing the need for stronger measures.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for animal welfare organisation Project Kindness, countered that forcing all strays into shelters could lead to cruelty, culling, and public health risks. He questioned whether municipal bodies had built adequate shelter facilities and urged the court to stay the earlier order.
The dispute has galvanised political leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Varun Gandhi, and Maneka Gandhi, who have all called for humane and scientific solutions. Animal rights groups such as PETA India have labelled the order “impractical, illogical, and illegal.”
Following the Supreme Court’s directive, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) picked up over 100 stray dogs and converted 20 Animal Birth Control centres into temporary shelters. The MCD has identified an 85-acre site in Ghoga Dairy, Outer Delhi, for large-scale facilities and plans to prioritise the relocation of aggressive and rabies-infected animals.
The court’s reserved order is expected to determine whether the August 11 directive will stand or be paused pending a detailed hearing.
