Supreme Court orders removal of all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR, sparks public debate
text_fields
The Supreme Court’s directive to remove all stray dogs from residential areas in Delhi-NCR and relocate them to shelters has ignited a fierce online debate.
On Monday, the apex court ordered the Delhi government and civic bodies in Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad to immediately begin rounding up strays, stating they must not be returned to the streets.
While Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) welcomed the move, animal rights advocates warned that civic agencies lack the land, funds, and infrastructure for such a large-scale operation. They cautioned the plan could worsen human-animal conflict rather than resolve it.
Reactions online were deeply divided.
Supporters of the decision cited safety concerns, with one 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 criticised the ruling, calling it a violation of animal welfare laws and a blow to compassion. "This judgment doesn’t just break laws, it breaks compassion… We owe our strays better," one commenter wrote.
Under the court’s directions, Delhi-NCR civic bodies must create shelter capacity for at least 5,000 dogs within six to eight weeks, with proper staffing for sterilisation and vaccination, CCTV monitoring to prevent release, and future expansion plans.
Authorities are also required to set up a helpline for dog bite reports.
The court said the operation could involve forming a dedicated force and warned that obstructing the exercise could result in contempt of court charges.
