Delhi-NCR Stray Dog Row: Supreme Court Order Sparks Heated Debate🐕
The Supreme Court’s Directive⚖️
On Monday, a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan described the situation caused by stray dog bites—especially rabies cases among children—as “extremely grim.”
The court ordered Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad authorities to begin moving strays into shelters “at the earliest,” starting with facilities for 5,000 dogs within six to eight weeks, with future expansion planned.
A day later, on August 12, the Supreme Court issued a follow-up order for its own premises—mandating that all leftover food be disposed of in covered bins 🗑️ to prevent attracting stray dogs and other animals. Non-compliance, it warned, would not be tolerated.
Maneka Gandhi: ‘Impractical, Harmful, Financially Unviable’🐾
Former Union Minister and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi criticised the order, warning it could backfire. She cited ecological risks, saying that removing strays could allow monkeys 🐒 or rodents 🐀 to proliferate.
Referring to an 1880s Paris episode, she noted that a mass removal of dogs and cats there allegedly led to a surge in rats.
Historical Context: Paris in the 1800s📜
In the late 19th century, Paris authorities saw stray dogs as a health threat and attempted large-scale removals due to rabies fears. While records confirm efforts to reduce the canine population in 1883, there’s no solid evidence that cats were targeted at the same time. However, reduced street animals reportedly led to more rats 🐀, which became a nuisance.
Political and Public Reactions🗣️
- Priyanka Gandhi Vadra warned that relocating all strays so quickly would be “horrendously inhumane,” as adequate shelters do not exist.
- Rahul Gandhi called the order “cruel” and “shortsighted,” arguing for sterilisation, vaccination 💉, and community care instead of blanket removals.
- Actors Janhvi Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, and TV star Rupali Ganguly echoed fears that the order amounts to a “death sentence” for street dogs.
- P. Chidambaram welcomed the ruling, urging its implementation nationwide with fenced municipal shelters 🏠 on city outskirts.
Animal Welfare Groups Push Back🐶
PETA India’s Advocacy Associate Shaurya Agrawal called the order “impractical, illogical, and illegal” under Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules. He highlighted that Delhi has an estimated 10 lakh stray dogs, only half sterilised. Housing them all in shelters, he argued, is unrealistic and would “create chaos and more problems.”
What’s Next?⏳
The order has left Delhi authorities racing against time to create thousands of shelter spaces. Supporters say it will make streets safer 🚸, while critics warn it risks cruelty and ecological disruption 🌍. With the clock ticking, the debate over balancing human safety and humane treatment of animals is far from over.
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