SC's Judgment on Stray Dogs leaves Internet Polarized, People Ask Why Prioritize Humans Over Dogs?

Key Points:

In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court ordered the relocation of all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to dedicated shelter homes within eight weeks on 11 August 2025. The court directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), and several other authorities in Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad to make shelter homes for 5,000 stray dogs.

The judgment was issued by a bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan, with an aim to curb the rising cases of rabies caused by stray dogs.

The order has sparked massive public outcry over stray dog relocation, with opinions divided on the rationale behind removing approximately eight lakh dogs from Delhi’s streets. Several politicians and animal protection bodies have expressed concern over the ruling on stray dogs in Delhi-NCR.

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People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the Indian wing of the American animal rights non-profit organisation, called the judgment “illogical,” “impractical,” and “illegal.” This comes amid rising rabies cases in Delhi and over 26,000 reported dog bite incidents in 2025 so far, according to MCD data.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, among others, has applauded the Supreme Court’s judgment.

Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram also expressed his support for the Supreme Court’s call to address the stray dog menace faced by the people of Delhi-NCR. He said the directive should be implemented nationwide, not just in Delhi. “It is not difficult to round up stray dogs and put them in proper dog shelters,” said Chidambaram.

Bharatiya Liberal Party President Dr. Munish Raizada noted that the problem of stray dogs has been increasing over the past decade, writing on X: “It’s so heartening to see that the Supreme Court has intervened to order removal of all stray dogs in Delhi state.” 

Animal rights activist and environmentalist Maneka Gandhi criticised the verdict passed by the Supreme Court, stating that the order is financially unviable and undoable. She said the Delhi government does not possess the required funds to implement it. She asked,

Although the internet remains divided over the landmark judgment, many are questioning the practicality of the decision.

The critics have raised concerns about whether the government can provide adequate shelter facilities and maintenance all the time. One user wrote on X:

“Judges want 5,000 dogs to be put in shelters in 8 weeks. Do they understand how much land is required for such shelters? And how much upkeep is required to ensure hygiene and medical care even for a shelter for 20-30 dogs?”

Another user questioned whether the stray animals would receive proper care in dedicated shelters or if “the Indian local government will euthanise many of them just to get rid of them.”

National Congress Party politician and activist Anish Gawande agreed with the motive to curb the spread of rabies but questioned the decision to put every single stray dog in a shelter. 

The SC order has also received widespread criticism from dog lovers and animal support groups. Amid the backlash, some users expressed hope that the action would be carried out “with compassion, proper facilities, and a focus on their well-being.”

The civic authorities now face the immense challenge of collecting stray dogs across Delhi-NCR and placing them in shelter homes within eight weeks. The Delhi government has stated it will comply with the court’s directive, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta assuring that a policy will be formulated soon and the order will be implemented in a systematic manner. [Rh/VS]

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