The recent Supreme Court order directing the immediate removal of thousands of stray dogs from Delhi streets has sparked a wave of debate across India, drawing reactions from politicians, activists, and animal welfare groups. Now, Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai has indicated that the matter will be reviewed.
On Wednesday, a plea related to stray dogs was mentioned before the Chief Justice’s bench for urgent listing. Assuring that the issue would be examined, Justice Gavai noted that another bench had already issued directions on the matter earlier this week.
The controversy erupted after the top court, citing rising rabies cases and public safety concerns, instructed authorities in New Delhi, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to begin removing all stray dogs from public areas and relocate them to permanent shelters. The court also ordered measures to prevent open dumping of food waste, which often attracts stray animals and poses health risks.
Animal rights organisations, including PETA India, have strongly criticised the move, calling it “unscientific and ineffective.” They argue that mass displacement will not curb the stray population or prevent incidents of bites and rabies, and instead advocate humane approaches such as sterilisation and vaccination. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also voiced his opposition, saying, “This is a step away from compassion. Stray animals should not be treated as a problem to be eliminated.”
The legal background of the case traces back to 2018, when a voluntary organisation filed a Public Interest Litigation in the Delhi High Court seeking large-scale sterilisation and vaccination of stray dogs. Though the case was disposed of without any specific orders in 2023, the group later moved the Supreme Court, challenging the High Court’s decision. That petition remains pending.
Earlier rulings from the apex court have emphasised compassion for all living beings and prohibited the indiscriminate killing of strays. Whether the current removal directive will stand or be modified now depends on the Supreme Court’s reassessment in the coming days — a decision that could shape India’s approach to managing its stray dog population for years to come.
