Delhi’s Stray Dog Order: Why It’s Dividing India, What Each Side Wants, And What Happens Next

Last Updated:August 12, 2025, 16:43 IST

The Supreme Court's 8-week order to remove strays from Delhi-NCR has triggered a fierce debate between animal rights groups and public safety advocates

Civic authorities have instructed the relevant departments to review stray dog complaints at least three times a week. (Getty Images)

The Supreme Court’s recent order to remove all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR streets within six to eight weeks has sparked a heated public debate. Issued during a suo motu hearing into rising dog-bite incidents, the ruling applies to Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad, and covers both sterilised and unsterilised animals.

The Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan called the situation “extremely grim" and declared: “Infants and young children should not at any cost fall prey to stray dog bites leading to rabies."

The order instructs civic bodies to build shelter capacity for at least 5,000 dogs as an immediate step, hire staff for sterilisation and vaccination, install CCTV in shelters, create a helpline for bite reports, and consider a dedicated task force. No dog caught under this drive is to be returned to the streets, and anyone obstructing the process risks contempt proceedings.

Why Animal Rights Groups Are Calling The Order ‘Cruel’ And ‘Illegal’

Animal rights groups and activists argue the order violates the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, which require that sterilised and vaccinated dogs be released back into their original locations, a framework that has been in place since the 2013 version of the rules and backed by earlier Supreme Court orders. They argue that the real problem is chronic underfunding and poor implementation of sterilisation programmes, not the rules themselves.

PETA India has called the ruling “impractical" and “illogical", stressing that Delhi’s estimated 10 lakh stray dogs make mass sheltering “simply impossible" and risk “very bad" conditions. Activists also warn of trauma, starvation, and disease outbreaks if dogs are confined in large numbers.

Adding political weight, Rahul Gandhi has called the blanket removals “cruel" and a “step back from decades of humane, science-backed policy", stressing that public safety and animal welfare “go hand in hand" and that “voiceless souls are not problems to be erased." MP Saket Gokhale has written to the Chief Justice of India seeking a stay and review of the directions.

Celebrity voices have amplified the pushback. Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan described strays as “part of the community, providing comfort, security, and companionship", saying the order strips them of safety and freedom. Singer Chinmayi Sripaada called it a “death sentence" and linked it to cultural symbolism, noting that dogs are the vehicle of Lord Kala Bhairava. She also warned that mass removal would lead to the abandonment of pet dogs, especially Indies, into already overcrowded shelters.

Filmmaker Siddharth Anand termed it a “death warrant" and urged petitions to stop what he called a “genocide of stray dogs". Comedian Vir Das shared pictures of his adopted Indies, encouraging adoption and donations to NGOs “at this critical time".

From Sterilisation Drives To Feeding Zones: The Alternatives On The Table

Protesters propose strengthening the ABC programme with proper funding, better coordination between civic bodies, and partnerships with NGOs to scale up sterilisation and vaccination drives. They recommend regulated feeding zones to reduce human–animal conflict, public awareness campaigns to promote safe coexistence, and stricter penalties for illegal breeding and abandonment.

Encouraging adoption, particularly of Indie dogs, is another priority, alongside adapting global best practices where sustained sterilisation and vaccination have sharply reduced rabies without mass culling or confinement.

Why Many Residents Say The Move Is Long Overdue

Support for the Supreme Court’s order has so far come largely from ordinary residents. Many see it as a long-overdue public safety measure, arguing that aggressive packs and rising bite cases—particularly involving children—cannot be addressed if dogs are released back after sterilisation.

Some parents have voiced fears for their young children’s safety, with one social media user writing: “No one should have to risk the life of their three-year-old child because someone somewhere is compassionate about stray dogs. It’s that simple." Others, including self-described dog owners, say they “love dogs" but believe the stray menace has become unmanageable, especially during night shifts or early-morning walks.

Several have challenged activists to adopt dogs themselves if they oppose the order, with one post reading: “Dear stray dog lovers, if you are this upset with the SC decision to take the strays off the road, please take a few into your homes… feeding stale chapatis on the road does NOT make you an animal activist." Supporters echo the court’s reasoning that returning dogs to public spaces is “absurd" when the aim is to prevent attacks.

Shelters, Staff, CCTV: What The SC Wants Done In Eight Weeks

Civic bodies in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad have less than two months to start mass pickups of all strays and move them to shelters. They must create initial capacity for 5,000 dogs, with expansion likely needed given the scale of the population. Hiring veterinary and support staff, vaccinating and sterilising the dogs, installing CCTV for monitoring, and running a helpline for bite incidents are part of the court’s checklist.

Coordination across municipalities will be essential to avoid duplication or gaps, and regular updates will be required for the court’s review. Any obstruction could invite contempt proceedings.

Over the coming weeks, petitions, protests, adoption drives, and donation campaigns from activists, celebrities, and political voices will run parallel to the authorities’ push to meet the court’s deadline.

Karishma Jain

Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar...Read More

Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar...

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August 12, 2025, 16:43 IST

News explainers Delhi’s Stray Dog Order: Why It’s Dividing India, What Each Side Wants, And What Happens Next

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