New Delhi: Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi has slammed the Supreme Court’s order to remove all stray dogs from the streets of Delhi-NCR and place them in shelters, calling it a reversal of decades of humane and science-backed policy. He argued that such blanket removals are “cruel, shortsighted, and strip us of compassion”.
His comments came a day after the apex court instructed authorities to permanently relocate all strays “at the earliest”, citing an “extremely grim” situation caused by dog bites and rabies cases, especially among children.
“These voiceless souls are not ‘problems’ to be erased,” Gandhi said in a post on X, adding that sterilisation, vaccination, and community care could make streets safe without resorting to cruelty. “We can ensure public safety and animal welfare go hand in hand,” he said.
SC order is ‘impractical, illogical, illegal’: PETA
Animal welfare groups, including the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, strongly opposed the decision, labelling it “impractical, illogical, and illegal”. They warned that forced removal of community dogs would bring “chaos and suffering” for both animals and residents.
PETA India’s Shaurya Agrawal noted that Delhi has around 10 lakh dogs, with only half sterilised. Housing them in shelters within eight weeks, as ordered, was “very difficult” and risked poor living conditions. “Removal of dogs is inhumane, is cruelty in itself,” he said in a PTI report.
The Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) termed the ruling “shocking”, saying it contradicts both international public health guidance and India’s own laws, which favour sterilisation and vaccination over mass removals.
‘Does Delhi have that kind of money?’
Former Union minister and animal rights advocate Maneka Gandhi also denounced the directive, describing it as “financially unviable” and damaging to the region’s ecological balance.
“You have three lakh dogs in Delhi. To get them all off the roads, you’ll have to make 3,000 pounds, each with drainage, water, a shed, a kitchen, and a watchman. That will cost about Rs 15,000 crore. Does Delhi have Rs 15,000 crore for this?” she asked as per PTI report. She further said that the order is not “doable” and that it is a “very strange judgment given by someone who is in anger”.
“Angry judgments are never sensible,” she was quoted by ANI.
What the Supreme Court said
The Supreme Court bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan warned that anyone obstructing the relocation process could face contempt proceedings. The judges questioned whether activists opposing the move could “bring back children who fell prey to rabies”.
The case began suo motu on July 28, following rising reports of stray dog attacks in the national capital. The Court directed Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad authorities to ensure shelters have trained staff for sterilisation and immunisation, with CCTV monitoring to prevent the dogs from being released.
(With inputs from agencies)
