New Delhi: Monday’s Supreme Court directive ordering the removal of all stray dogs from the streets of Delhi-NCR has ignited sharp criticism from animal rights activists, celebrities and political leaders alike, with former Union minister Maneka Gandhi calling the move “impractical, financially unviable, and ecologically dangerous. The Delhi government, however, called the presence of strays on the streets a serious problem and vowed to tackle it.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the apex court’s directive to remove was a step back from decades of humane, science-backed policy, and stressed “blanket removals are cruel, shortsighted, and strip us of compassion”. His sister and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra termed the move “horrendously inhumane” as she stressed that dogs are the most beautiful creatures who do not deserve this kind of “cruelty”.
Maneka Gandhi slammed the feasibility of the plan. “Delhi has over three lakh stray dogs. To house them all, you’d need at least 3,000 pounds, each equipped with proper facilities. This would cost around `15,000 crore. Does Delhi have that kind of money?” she asked, warning that feeding such a large number of impounded dogs could require `5 crore a week.
She alleged the case was built on a false report linking a child’s death to a dog attack, later confirmed by her parents to have been caused by meningitis. The former BJP MP also questioned the legality of the decision, highlighting that another SC bench had issued a more balanced order just a month earlier.
She also warned of severe ecological consequences. “Remove the dogs and monkeys will descend. Rodent populations will explode, as happened in 1880s Paris when cats and dogs were removed,” she said, stressing that stray dogs act as natural pest controllers.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul said, “The SC’s directive to remove all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR is a step back from decades of humane, science-backed policy.These voiceless souls are not “problems” to be erased.”
In a post on X Gandhi said, “Shelters, sterilisation, vaccination & community care can keep streets safe – without cruelty. Blanket removals are cruel, shortsighted, and strip us of compassion. We can ensure public safety and animal welfare go hand in hand,” the former Congress president said.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra echoed the similar sentiments and said in a social media post that, surely there is a better way to manage the situation and a humane way can be found in which these innocent animals are looked after and kept safe as well,” she said adding dogs are the most beautiful, gentle creatures, they do not deserve this kind of cruelty,
Celebrities reacted strongly against the ruling. Actor John Abraham wrote a letter to Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, urging a review and modification of the order.
The 52-year-old, who was named the first honorary director of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, said the street dogs were not strays but rather part of the community and loved by many. “I hope you will agree that these are not ‘strays’ but community dogs – respected and loved by many, and very much Delhiites in their own right, having lived in the region as neighbours to humans for generations,” Abraham said.
The actor stated that the directive was in conflict with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, and the apex court’s past judgments on the issue which have consistently “upheld a methodical sterilisation programme”.
“The ABC Rules prohibit the displacement of dogs, instead mandating their sterilisation, vaccination, and return to the very areas they inhabit. Where the ABC programme is implemented earnestly, it works,” he said, giving the example of cities like Jaipur and Lucknow.
Raveena Tandon said, “Where the population of indies (Indian Dog breed) had increased, it was honestly not the poor dogs who were to be blamed. She added that it meant the vaccination and sterilization drives were not being carried out by local bodies. If that had been a success, or if the money and infrastructure had been set properly, I did not think we would have reached this point. Local bodies are responsible for the strays in their communities and that sterilization is the need of the hour.”
Actors including Janhvi Kapoor, Varun Dhawan also strongly opposed the order.
Meanwhile, Delhi authorities have pledged to implement the court’s ruling, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta saying the dog menace has reached “gigantic proportions.” Delhi development minister Kapil Mishra called the move essential to rid the city of rabies.
The Supreme Court has directed the creation of shelters for 5,000 dogs within six to eight weeks, signalling the start of a massive and contentious undertaking—one that has now triggered a national debate on ethics, feasibility, and compassion.