Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai has said that he will “look into” the recent Supreme Court order directing the removal of all stray dogs from the streets of Delhi and the National Capital Region within eight weeks. The assurance came after widespread criticism from animal rights activists, NGOs, political leaders, and celebrities, who argue that the order is in direct conflict with existing laws and earlier court rulings.
The controversial directive, issued on August 11, 2025, by a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, requires municipal bodies to capture all street dogs and place them in shelters equipped for sterilization, vaccination, and monitoring. The order was prompted by a rise in rabies cases and fatal dog-bite incidents, with the court stressing that infants and young children should not be endangered.
However, opponents point out that the ruling goes against the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, which clearly state that sterilized and vaccinated stray dogs must be returned to their original territories. A previous Supreme Court bench in 2024 also upheld this approach, emphasizing humane, in-situ management over relocation. Critics have warned that the mass removal of strays could overwhelm already crowded shelters, lead to neglect or euthanasia, and disrupt urban ecological balances.
By acknowledging the concerns and the apparent contradiction between two Supreme Court orders, the Chief Justice has left the door open for a possible review. For now, the fate of thousands of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR hangs in the balance, as the legal and moral debate over public safety versus animal welfare continues to intensify.