The Supreme Court’s order, issued on Monday, directs civic bodies across Delhi-NCR to immediately capture all stray dogs and relocate them to shelters.
Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday reacted to the Supreme Court’s directive to remove all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR, calling it a step backward from decades of humane, science-backed policy.Taking to social media platform X, LoP Gandhi said, “The SC’s directive to remove all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR is a step back from decades of humane, science-backed policy.”He added, “These voiceless souls are not ‘problems’ to be erased. Shelters, sterilisation, vaccination, and community care can keep streets safe – without cruelty. Blanket removals are cruel, shortsighted, and strip us of compassion. We can ensure public safety and animal welfare go hand in hand.”The order applies to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), and civic agencies in Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad. These agencies have been instructed to begin removing stray dogs from their respective jurisdictions and house them in designated shelters. Where shelters do not currently exist, the authorities have been directed to construct them immediately and submit a detailed report on their infrastructure within eight weeks.
The Bench issued a stern warning, stating that any organisation or individual obstructing the removal of stray dogs would face strict legal consequences.
