Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed his displeasure over Supreme Court’s judgment on stray dogs, saying the directions are “not backed by science” and takes a step back from decades of “humane policies”.
“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,” he said in a post on X.
The leader of the opposition said the people need to ensure public safety and animal welfare go hand in hand.
“Shelters, sterilisation, vaccination & community care can keep streets safe - without cruelty. Blanket removals are cruel, shortsighted, and strip us of compassion,” he 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. Shelters, sterilisation, vaccination & community care can keep streets safe - without cruelty. Blanket… — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 12, 2025
Earlier, animal rights activist and former Union minister Maneka Gandhi strongly criticised the Supreme Court's order on stray dogs in Delhi-NCR, calling the directive "impractical", "financially unviable" and "potentially harmful" to the region's ecological balance.
The apex court, terming the stray dog menace "extremely grim", ordered the Delhi government and civic bodies to start picking up strays from all localities and keep them in shelters, warning of strict action against anyone obstructing the drive.
Gandhi said that the scale of the task makes it "unworkable".
"You have three lakh dogs in Delhi. To get them all off the roads, you'll have to make 3,000 pounds, each with drainage, water, a shed, a kitchen, and a watchman. That will cost about Rs 15,000 crore. Does Delhi have Rs 15,000 crore for this?" she told PTI.
Feeding the impounded dogs, she added, would require another Rs 5 crore a week, which could spark a public backlash.
The Delhi government has indicated it will follow the court's order, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta saying the stray dog menace has assumed "gigantic proportion" and assuring that the government will soon come up with a policy to implement the order in a planned manner.
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