Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has criticised the Supreme Court’s recent directive to remove all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR within eight weeks, calling it “a step back from decades of humane, science-backed policy.”
In a post on X, Gandhi said stray animals are “not problems to be erased” and urged authorities to focus on shelters, sterilisation, vaccination, and community care as humane solutions to ensure public safety. He called blanket removals “cruel” and “shortsighted,” warning they strip society of compassion.
The Supreme Court, responding to a rise in stray dog attacks, ordered authorities in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram to round up all stray dogs—regardless of sterilisation status—and move them to dedicated shelters. The court also directed the creation of a helpline to report dog bites, with offending animals to be captured within four hours.
Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta and city mayor Iqbal Singh welcomed the decision, citing a “gigantic” stray dog menace and pledging swift implementation, despite a current lack of permanent shelters.
Animal rights groups, including PETA India, strongly opposed the ruling, calling it “impractical, illogical, and illegal.” They warned that forcibly removing community dogs would cause suffering and disrupt the balance between residents and street animals.
