The Supreme Court recently ordered that all stray dogs in Delhi and NCR be captured and placed in shelters within eight weeks. The court made it clear that no captured dog—sterilised or not—should be released back onto the streets. Any official or group that resists could face contempt charges.
This decision follows a rise in rabies-related worries and dog bite reports. The court said the action was necessary to keep people safe, particularly children. Supporters cite nearly 2,000 dog bite cases reported daily as evidence of the serious problem.
Bollywood Speaks Out Against The SC Stray Dog Order
Many Bollywood stars quickly spoke against the Supreme Court ruling, calling it harsh and lacking compassion. Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan shared a heartfelt message on Instagram:
“They call it a menace. We call it a heartbeat. Today… take every stray dog off the streets and lock them away. No sunlight. No freedom… These aren’t ‘stray dogs’… they wait outside your tea stall for a biscuit… A society that can’t protect its voiceless is losing its soul.”
Actor-comedian Vir Das urged citizens to adopt strays instead of supporting mass removal. Singer Chinmayi Sripaada called the directive a “death sentence” for loyal animals. Writer Varun Grover slammed the idea of “forced starvation” and urged more thoughtful solutions.
John Abraham Urges Humane Response Based On Science
John Abraham took it a step further by writing to Chief Justice BR Gavai. He called the ruling “inhumane” and “impractical.” Abraham cited World Health Organisation guidelines and India’s Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules 2023.
These rules detail humane methods like sterilisation, vaccination, and releasing dogs back to their communities. Abraham warned that ignoring these proven approaches could harm both animal welfare and public safety.
Raveena Tandon Blames Civic Failures
Veteran actress Raveena Tandon pointed her finger at municipal authorities. She said the problem is not stray dogs but failed efforts in sterilisation and vaccination campaigns. She said, “Punishing the dogs for our failures will not solve the problem” and called for better civic planning and action.
In one story, she wrote, “If numbers mattered, we’d be fixing roads and punishing reckless drivers. But, here we are killing innocent dogs instead.”
SC Stray Dogs Order Sparks Debate On Public Safety And Animal Rights
The Supreme Court has defended the order as essential for public safety. Yet critics argue it ignores humane, science-backed methods in place.
