Sharmila Tagore urges compassion in Supreme Court stray dog debate: A door has been slammed shut on the voiceless'

Sharmila Tagore voices against the Supreme Court Stray dog order

Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore has become the latest prominent voice to express concern over the Supreme Court’s contentious ruling ordering the removal of stray dogs from public spaces across the Delhi-NCR region.

Anish Gawande, National Spokesperson for the NCP, shared a video on Instagram in which Sharmila Tagore appealed for a more humane and considered approach to the matter.

Sharmila Tagore, who owns a residence in Delhi, said she was deeply troubled by the decision. "We are currently grappling with a crisis of conscience.

This recent judgment feels like a door has been slammed shut on the most vulnerable and voiceless members of our society. I had hoped that the preservation of life and dignity would lie at the heart of such decisions," she remarked.

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She went on to say, "What was needed was a more measured and considered response to the systemic shortcomings that have contributed to what’s now being described as a ‘dog menace’. In silencing those who cannot speak for themselves, we risk diminishing something essential within ourselves."

Urging the authorities to review the verdict, Tagore stressed, "This reliance on control over compassion has caused immense damage. I sincerely hope the Supreme Court will reflect and strike a just and humane balance."

Actor Randeep Hooda welcomed this move, writing on social media, "Heartening to hear that the Honourable Chief Justice has agreed to review the ruling concerning stray dogs in the NCR. Any law, especially one involving living beings, must be humane above all. Infrastructure and sensitivity are critical when it comes to implementation."

The original judgement, handed down on 11 August, directed the removal of stray dogs to designated shelters, citing a surge in dog attacks and rabies-related deaths.

Several Bollywood figures, including John Abraham, Janhvi Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, and Raveena Tandon, voiced strong opposition. In a letter to Chief Justice Gavai, Abraham argued, "These are not ‘strays’, they are community dogs, cherished and respected by many. They are as much a part of Delhi as any of its human residents, having lived alongside us for generations."

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Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan jointly stated, "They call it a menace. We call it a heartbeat. The Supreme Court says, remove every stray dog from the streets of Delhi-NCR and confine them. No sunlight. No freedom. No familiar faces to greet them each day."

Under the court’s directive, civic bodies in Delhi-NCR — including Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad — must set up shelters accommodating 5,000 dogs each, with vaccination and sterilisation facilities, within six to eight weeks. CCTV monitoring and a dedicated helpline for reporting dog bites are also to be introduced.