"I will look into this," says Chief Justice on stray dogs order
Mangalore Today News Network
New Delhi, Aug 13, 2025: Chief Justice of India BR Gavai has assured a relook at the ban on stray dogs on the streets of Delhi-NCR amid an uproar from several quarters of society. The top court had Monday ordered shifting all stray dogs from residential localities to shelters in view of rising dog bites and rabies cases, drawing mixed reactions.
Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) welcomed the order, but animal activists argued that civic bodies lacked funds for such a shifting exercise.
The issue was raised before the Chief Justice this morning. He was also apprised of a previous court order that barred the relocation and killing of stray dogs and mandated the following of existing laws.
"I will look into this," replied the Chief Justice, adding to the hopes of thousands of animal lovers who differed with the top court on the need to relocate dogs from the streets of Delhi-NCR.
The instance that the counsel pointed out is a May 2024 order by a bench of Justice JK Maheshwari, which had sent similar petitions to High Courts and observed, "Exhibiting compassion to all living beings is a Constitutional value."
Monday’s order was passed by a bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, taking note of news reports on the rising dog bite cases.
"We need to pick up round up with whatever means to ensure dog-free locality, and that’s how children and the aged will feel safe," the bench had said, making it clear that no petitions by dog lovers or any other party would be heard.
"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," Justice Pardiwala said.
The order triggered a wave of backlash from among civil society, including politicians and celebrities. An urgent appeal was sent to the CJI by actor John Abraham seeking a review of Monday’s order.
Former Union minister Maneka Gandhi, also an animal activist, called the top court directive "impractical", "financially unviable," and "potentially harmful" to the region’s ecological balance.
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), the foremost voice for animal rights in the country, also weighed in. Such large-scale displacement is both unscientific and ineffective, warned a senior PETA doctor.
"Communities think of neighbourhood dogs as family, and the displacement and jailing of dogs is not scientific and has NEVER worked...It will also ultimately do nothing to curb the dog population, reduce rabies or prevent dog bite incidents," said a statement by Dr Mini Aravindan, PETA India’s Senior Director of Veterinary Affairs.