The Supreme Court has issued a significant ruling concerning the growing population of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR. To address this issue, the court has ordered that all stray dogs be captured and placed in dog shelters within the next eight weeks. Following this decision, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has voiced his opinion on the matter.
In a post on the social media platform X, Rahul Gandhi stated that the Supreme Court’s directive to remove all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR is a step backward from decades of humane, science-backed policy. He emphasized that these animals are not problems to be eliminated.
Addressing the solution for the increasing number of dogs, Rahul Gandhi suggested that shelters, sterilization, vaccination, and community care could keep the streets safe without cruelty. He stated that removing stray animals without consideration is cruel and undermines our humanity, asserting that public safety and animal welfare can coexist.
The Supreme Court’s order includes directives for the immediate establishment of shelters for stray dogs, mandating the creation of shelter homes for 5,000 dogs. The court also clarified that stray dogs captured from the streets will not be released back. The court’s objective is to free Delhi-NCR from stray dogs to ensure the safety of children, women, and the elderly on the streets.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court has instructed that the department responsible for capturing stray dogs must maintain a daily record of the number of dogs captured.
According to recent surveys and data from the Delhi Municipal Corporation, the estimated population of stray dogs in Delhi is approximately 1 million. This decision by the court follows an increase in the number of dogs and cases of dog bites. The ruling has elicited various reactions, with some supporting it and others opposing it.
PETA India’s Advocacy Associate, Shaurya Agarwal, also responded to the Supreme Court’s order, noting that with nearly 1 million dogs in Delhi, less than half have been sterilized, making it challenging to accommodate so many dogs in shelters.
