The ongoing debate over stray dog management in the Delhi-NCR region intensified on Wednesday after Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai assured that he would “look into” concerns surrounding the Supreme Court’s August 11 directive ordering the removal of all stray dogs from public spaces. The remarks came after a lawyer mentioned that an earlier ruling of the court prohibited indiscriminate killing of community dogs, which had been passed by a bench that included Justice Karol.

Background to the controversy

The issue was raised in open court when an advocate pointed out that the August 11 order by a bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan mandated the permanent relocation of stray dogs to shelters. The bench had cited an “extremely grim” situation due to rising dog bite cases and rabies-related deaths, particularly among children.

The August 11 ruling directed Delhi authorities to establish shelters for around 5,000 dogs within six to eight weeks and to plan for expanding capacity in the future. The order also required Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad authorities to comply with similar measures.

Enforcement and penalties

The bench warned that strict action, including contempt proceedings, would be taken against individuals or organisations obstructing the relocation process. In pointed remarks aimed at animal activists, the judges questioned whether “so-called lovers” of dogs could bring back children who died from rabies.

The case itself originated from a suo motu proceeding initiated on July 28 by the Supreme Court in response to the increasing number of stray dog bite incidents in Delhi. The court emphasised that these directives were being issued in the larger public interest and that public safety should not be compromised.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta supported the move and urged that the relocation order be extended to other NCR cities for uniform implementation.

Pushback from activists and public figures

While the court’s decision has been welcomed by those concerned with public safety, it has drawn strong criticism from animal rights activists, public figures, and political leaders.

Actor John Abraham sent a letter to CJI BR Gavai urging a review and modification of the directive. He stressed that these dogs are “not strays but community dogs”, respected and loved by many, and have lived alongside humans for generations.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticise the ruling, calling it a step back from decades of humane, science-backed policy. He argued that public safety and animal welfare can coexist, and advocated for sterilisation, vaccination, and community care as more sustainable, compassionate solutions than mass removal.

Legal and ethical debate ahead

The matter now stands at a crossroads — balancing public health concerns with animal rights protections. CJI Gavai’s assurance that he will review the matter has raised expectations that the court may revisit its position in light of earlier judgments protecting community dogs.

As the legal process unfolds, the debate will likely intensify, involving animal welfare organisations, public health authorities, and lawmakers. The case touches on complex intersections of law, ethics, and public policy — from constitutional protections for animals to citizen safety on the streets.

Given the court’s deadlines for creating shelter capacity and the strong public reactions, the next hearings could determine whether the relocation order is implemented as is, modified, or completely overhauled to accommodate more balanced solutions.

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