Delhi-NCR stray dog matter referred to Supreme Court's 3-judge bench, hearing tomorrow

Animal lovers have been rallying in Delhi against SC order to move stray dogs to shelters

The Supreme Court’s suo motu case on the stray dog issue — where a two-judge bench had, on August 11, directed that stray dogs in Delhi-NCR be relocated to shelters — has now been referred to a three-judge bench.

The new bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria, is scheduled to hear the matter tomorrow.

The earlier relocation order was issued on August 11 by a bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan.

Earlier in the day, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai had said that he will examine the Supreme Court’s recent directive ordering the removal of stray dogs from Delhi’s streets and their relocation to shelters.

The matter was flagged by a lawyer, who referred to an earlier SC judgment prohibiting the indiscriminate killing of dogs and emphasising compassion towards all living beings.

The lawyer expressed concern over the August 11 order, which directed that all stray dogs in Delhi be removed within six to eight weeks.

“This concerns community dogs… There is a prior judgment of this court, in which Justice Karol was part of the bench, stating that there cannot be indiscriminate killing of canines and that compassion for all living beings is essential,” the lawyer said.

In response, CJI Gavai noted, “But another bench has already passed orders. I will look into this,” according to a LiveLaw report.