Delhi stray dog row: 'No harsh action till SC decides', CM Rekha Gupta tells officials 

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. (File photo/PTI)

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has instructed all concerned departments to refrain from taking "harsh action" against stray dogs until the Supreme Court delivers its final ruling on the contentious issue, TOI reported.

The directive follows heightened public outcry over a recent court order proposing the relocation of strays in Delhi-NCR to distant shelters. On August 14, a three-judge bench reserved its verdict after hearing challenges to the earlier directive issued by a two-judge bench.

CM Gupta told all concerned during a high-level meeting to refrain from taking "any kind of harsh action that may hurt the sentiments of dog lovers or harm the dogs." A senior official present at the discussion was quoted by The Indian Express as saying that the government would remain in a "watch and ward" mode until the apex court’s final decision.

The official also revealed plans for a large-scale sterilisation campaign across Delhi, aimed at managing the stray population humanely. This comes amid widespread protests in Delhi-NCR and other parts of India, as well as overseas, where activists, celebrities and politicians have condemned mass relocation, advocating instead for sterilisation and immunisation programmes.

The past week saw intense demonstrations, with critics arguing that relocating strays en masse is inhumane and ineffective. Many have called for scientific alternatives, including systematic sterilisation drives, a stance backed by animal rights groups and prominent figures.