Supreme Court to Review Controversial Stray Dog Relocation Order

A day after Chief Justice of India BR Gavai pledged to revisit the two-judge bench directive mandating the relocation of all stray dogs in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) to shelter homes, the matter will now be heard by a larger bench on Thursday.

Following Chief Justice Gavai’s instructions, a three-judge bench comprising justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria will deliberate on the case.

The original relocation order was issued on Monday by Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan. Advocate Nanita Sharma brought the matter before the Chief Justice on Wednesday, emphasizing that two contrasting Supreme Court rulings existed on the issue.

She cited an earlier directive advocating the enforcement of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, which stipulate that sterilised and vaccinated stray dogs be returned to their original habitat.

On Monday, Justice Pardiwala and Mahadevan. armed by the surge in dog bite incidents, ordered that all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR be rounded up and transferred to shelter within eight weeks, prohibiting their release.

"We are not doing this for us, it is for the public interest. So, no sentiments of any nature should be involved. Action should be taken at the earliest… Pick up dogs from all localities and shift them to shelters. For the time being, forget the rules," Justice Pardiwala remarked.

The bench further questioned, "All these animal activists, will they be able to bring back those who have fallen prey to rabies? We need to make streets absolutely free of stray dogs."

Concerns Over Feasibility

Animal welfare advocates, public figures, and political leaders swiftly voiced apprehension, arguing that Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram lacked the infrastructure to execute such a colossal relocation within the stipulated timeframe. Critics warned that removing dogs from one area could trigger an influx from neighbouring zones, rendering the effort counterproductive.

Former Union Minister and animal rights proponent Maneka Gandhi estimated the logistical enormity: “You have three lakh dogs in Delhi. To get them all off the roads, you will have to make 3,000 pounds, each with drainage, water, a shed, a kitchen, and a watchman. That will cost about Rs 15,000 crore. Does Delhi have Rs 15,000 crore for this?”

She also cautioned that removing dogs could lead to ecological disequilibrium, noting historic examples like Paris in the 1880s, where culling cats and dogs resulted in rampant rat infestations.

Previous Ruling Advocated Compassion

In an earlier ruling, Justices Sanjay Karol and JK Maheshwari urged compliance with the ABC Rules, underscoring that indiscriminate canine culling violated constitutional values of compassion and humane governance. They stressed an obligation to protect all sentient beings under existing legislation.