On August 11, a Bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan directed the Delhi government, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to promptly begin removing stray dogs from all areas and, if necessary, establish a dedicated task force to carry out this operation.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi strongly criticised the Supreme Court’s order, describing it as a “regressive move that undermines decades of humane and science-based policies.” In a statement on X, Gandhi condemned the blanket removal of stray dogs as “cruel, short-sighted, and lacking compassion.” He advocated for solutions centered on sterilisation, vaccination, the establishment of shelters, and community involvement to maintain public safety without causing harm to animals.
Gandhi emphasized, “The Supreme Court’s directive to remove all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR reverses years of compassionate, evidence-backed approaches. These vulnerable creatures are not problems to be eliminated. Through shelters, sterilisation, vaccination, and community care, we can ensure safety on our streets without cruelty. Blanket removals are inhumane and betray our compassion. It is possible to protect public safety while upholding animal welfare.”