The recent Supreme Court decision to eliminate all dogs that wander from Delhi-NCR in just eight weeks has set off controversy, which has prompted Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai to announce a re-examination of the controversial order. The order, which requires the transfer of an estimated 10 lakh stray dogs to shelters, polarised the public, with celebrities and animal lovers expressing displeasure with it as cruel, whereas others praise it as an essential step to ensure public safety.
The apex court’s decision was issued on the 11th of August 2025 by a panel of justices, J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, and came in reaction to a suo-motu matter triggered by an increase in dog-bite-related deaths, especially in children. The court ordered the municipal officials of Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad to capture all stray dogs, regardless of whether they are sterilised, and to keep them in shelters specifically designed for that purpose; it also explicitly prohibited the release of these dogs into public spaces. The court declared the situation of stray dogs “extremely grim” and warned that any obstruction to the process could result in an action of contempt.
CJI’s Response Sparks Hope
On Wednesday, CJI B.R. Gavai promised a review of the decision after a female lawyer expressed concerns before his bench. Lawyers cited the May 2024 decision of the bench headed by Justice J.K. Maheshwari, which transferred stray dog-related petitions to the highest courts, banned both killing and relocating stray dogs, and urged adherence to the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules 2023. “I will look into it,” the CJI said, sparking hope among animal welfare activists who have been adamantly opposed to the directive to relocate all animals.
The CJI’s announcement comes amid increasing protests by animal rights groups, political leaders, and Bollywood celebrities who argue that the decision is in violation of laws such as the ABC Rules, which mandate that sterilised and vaccine-vaccinated dogs return to their former locales. Many critics, including PETA India and a long-standing activist, Maneka Gandhi, have described the decision as “impractical” and “cruel” due to logistical difficulties when it comes to sheltering Delhi’s massive homeless dog population as well as the possibility of poor life conditions within overcrowded shelters.
The Supreme Court’s Directive
The Supreme Court’s ruling laid out a five-point programme to deal with the issue of stray dogs:
- Instant Capture The civic bodies should begin bringing in dogs that are stray, beginning with areas at risk, within 6-8 weeks.
- Shelter creation The authorities are expected to construct shelters for a minimum of 5000 dogs with sterilisation staff and vaccinations. They will be under surveillance via CCTV.
- “No Release” Policy The dogs that are captured should not be allowed back into public spaces in any way.
- Helpline for complaints A designated helpline is required within a week for complaints about bites from dogs, and authorities are obliged to respond within four hours.
- Rabies Vaccine Access: The judge must receive detailed reports on the availability of anti-rabies vaccinations.
It justified their decision by putting the public’s safety, especially for seniors and children, as a matter of the ABC Rules, which it called “unreasonable and absurd” for calling for the release of sterilised dogs. The bench said, “Forget the rules and confront the reality. The dogs will be taken care of and seized quickly, using whatever method.”
A Polarised Debate
The ruling has generated an unpopular reaction. The associations representing residents’ welfare and a few citizens have welcomed the decision buthave expressed concerns about dog packs that are aggressive and a rise in cases of rabies, including the fatality of a 6-year-old girl from the Delhi district of Pooth Kalan in June 2025. One user on social media wrote, “No one should have to risk their child’s life because someone is compassionate about stray dogs.”
However, celebrities and animal lovers such as John Abraham, Janhvi Kapoor, and Dhawan have decried the decision as an unjust “death sentence” for strays in the hope of encouraging adoption and better sterilisation programmes instead. Rahul Gandhi, who is the leader of the Opposition, has called the decision a “step back from decades of humane, science-backed policy”; however, Priyanka Gandhi called it “cruel” and highlighted the inadequate shelter infrastructure.
Delhi Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh has supported the plan, stating that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will implement it in a gradual method, with a focus on aggressive or aggressive dogs, and also convert existing sterilisation facilities into shelters. But animal rights activists are concerned about the potential cost of $15,000, and the daily maintenance of 5 crore rupees makes the scheme financially unsustainable.
What Lies Ahead?
With the CJI’s promise to reconsider the ruling, the fate of Delhi-NCR’s wandering dogs is now in the hands of the court. The court will review the matter within six weeks to determine compliance, and animal welfare groups are looking into legal options to challenge the order. As petitions, protests, and adoption drives grow in popularity, the debate reveals an important question: can India manage to maintain its public safety and compassion for the animals it has abandoned?