Stray Dogs in Delhi-NCR: Supreme Court Order Sparks Spectrum of Reactions
In a landmark directive on August 11, 2025, the Supreme Court mandated that all stray dogs residing in residential neighbourhoods across Delhi-NCR be relocated to shelters within an eight-week timeframe. Several petitions had reached the court, highlighting cases where residents particularly children and the elderly were injured, and arguing that existing sterilization and vaccination drives had failed to control the problem. The court emphasized the urgency of public safety and instructed authorities to disregard existing procedural constraints.
On paper, it sounded like a decisive step but in reality, it has opened up a storm of debate not only in civic offices but across political circles, social media, and animal rights groups.
A Sharp Split in Reactions
Supporters of the move see it as long overdue. Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra welcomed the decision, stating it a push in the right direction for the city’s safety, and even credited sustained media campaigns for keeping the matter alive. Moreover, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has already drawn up an aggressive plan to capture 6,000 aggressive dogs in six weeks, block NGOs running Animal Birth Control (ABC) shelters from releasing them back, and request additional land for new shelters.
On the flip side, critics have raised serious concerns. Opponents argue the order is both unrealistic and unkind. Former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi, a long-time advocate for animal rights, described it as “financially unviable” and “impractical.” Her concern is not only about the estimated ₹15,000 crore cost but also the ongoing expense of feeding and caring for thousands of animals once they are confined.
Groups like PETA reflecting broader animal rights opposition, labelled the decision “illogical” and “unscientific,” warning that mass displacement ignores more sustainable, humane alternatives. Several activists were detained during protests in Delhi, a sign of just how charged the atmosphere has become.
Voices from Public Figures and the Opposition
It’s not just activists who are speaking out. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has also urged a more measured approach, pointing out that public safety and animal welfare are not mutually exclusive. “Blanket removals,” he said, “are cruel and unnecessary when solutions exist that respect both people and animals.”
Actor Varun Dhawan and actress Janhvi Kapoor being animal lovers has also voiced their unease through their social media platforms, joining the online chorus questioning whether the city’s infrastructure or compassion is ready for such a sweeping change.
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, for his part, has offered a practical alternative encouraging adoption, vaccination, and visible identification for street dogs. “Give them homes, give them collars,” he suggested, “rather than send them away to overcrowded shelters.”
Structural Hurdles and the Road Ahead
The practicality of enforcing this order is in question. Delhi is estimated to have around one million stray dogs, yet currently maintains only about 20 animal control centres that can temporarily house fewer than 5,000 dogs post-sterilization. To ramp up shelter infrastructure would require constructing thousands more facilities an undertaking of immense scale.
As authorities rush to meet the eight-week deadline, the path forward remains fraught: will Delhi-NCR manage to build the capacity and muster the funding? Or will the high costs, ethical concerns, and lack of infrastructure stall the initiative? The coming weeks are likely to prove pivotal in determining whether policy, compassion, and practicality can find a workable middle ground or just remains another policy that stumbled on the road from the court to the street.
