Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Supreme Court today heard multiple petitions opposing its August 11 order directing the removal of all stray dogs from Delhi NCR streets to shelter homes, with critics warning of impracticality and cruelty in execution. The bench questioned why civic bodies began picking up animals even before the order was made public and criticised authorities for failing to enforce existing animal control rules.
Concerns Over Infrastructure and Animal Welfare
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria noted that Parliament has framed laws for animal control, but their non-implementation has worsened the situation. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi government, cited alarming dog bite statistics—37 lakh cases last year—and argued for separating dogs from humans for public safety. However, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing animal welfare body Project Kindness, countered that there are no shelter homes to house such large numbers, making the order unworkable and potentially harmful to the animals. He warned that crowded shelters could lead to violence among the dogs and spread of disease.
Legal Arguments Against the August 11 Directions
Senior Advocate Abhishek Singhvi added that the court’s earlier directions “put the cart before the horse,” as they assumed the existence of infrastructure that does not currently exist. He stressed that while dog bites are a problem, the proposed measures risk creating a “horror situation” and exceed legal boundaries. Justice Nath acknowledged the dilemma between protecting public safety and respecting animal welfare, noting that the court must balance both concerns. The bench has reserved its order on the matter.
