CJI promises review of Supreme Court’s stray dog relocation order amid backlash
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Chief Justice of India BR Gavai said he will reconsider the Supreme Court’s recent directive to remove stray dogs from Delhi-NCR’s residential areas and shift them to shelters.
The assurance came after the CJI was informed of an earlier order prohibiting the relocation or killing of stray dogs and requiring adherence to existing animal protection laws.
The Supreme Court’s order, issued on Monday by Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, cited rising incidents of dog bites and rabies cases. The bench directed civic authorities to ensure “dog-free localities” for public safety, stating, “We need to pick up, round up with whatever means to ensure dog-free locality, and that's how children and the aged will feel safe.”
The judges also made clear that no petitions from dog lovers or other parties would be entertained, stressing that the move was in the “public interest” and should be carried out urgently.
The directive drew mixed reactions.
While several Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) welcomed the order, animal rights activists voiced concerns over the feasibility, citing limited civic budgets and the ecological implications of mass displacement.
Actor John Abraham sent an urgent appeal to the CJI seeking a review, while former Union minister and animal welfare advocate Maneka Gandhi labeled the order “impractical,” “financially unviable,” and “potentially harmful” to the region’s ecological balance.
PETA India also condemned the ruling, with Senior Director of Veterinary Affairs Dr Mini Aravindan stating, “Communities think of neighbourhood dogs as family, and the displacement and jailing of dogs is not scientific and has NEVER worked... It will also ultimately do nothing to curb the dog population, reduce rabies, or prevent dog bite incidents.”
The counsel who raised the matter before the CJI referenced a May 2024 order by Justice JK Maheshwari, which had transferred similar cases to High Courts and underscored that “Exhibiting compassion to all living beings is a Constitutional value.”