The Supreme Court’s three-judge panel, consisting of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N V Anjaria, reserved its decision in the stray dogs case on Thursday, August 14. This hearing comes in response to significant protests against the court’s directive for the comprehensive removal of stray dogs from all NCR areas. During the proceedings, a heated discussion unfolded as senior advocate Kapil Sibal contended that the order issued on August 11 should be put on hold, cautioning that the mass relocation of dogs to shelters could result in cruelty, culling, and public health hazards. In contrast, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta pointed out that India sees over 37 lakh dog bites each year, emphasizing the public safety issues that prompted the Supreme Court’s ruling regarding stray dogs. The case was brought to the court’s attention shortly after being mentioned before Chief Justice BR Gavai in open court, who responded, “I will look into it.” The matter will now be addressed by Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria. This follows a two-judge bench’s order three days prior, which mandated the removal of all stray dogs to shelters, scheduling the next hearing for four weeks later. However, this order faced backlash from various groups, including animal advocates in Delhi NCR, and was met with swift criticism from politicians, public figures, and animal rights organizations. They argued that more humane and effective long-term solutions, such as sterilization, vaccination, and community care, should be prioritized. On August 11, a Supreme Court bench led by Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan instructed authorities to capture stray dogs, beginning with 5,000 within a timeframe of six to eight weeks. The court specified that no captured dogs should be returned to the streets under any circumstances. Additionally, the court noted that “The stray dogs shall be captured, sterilized, dewormed, and immunized as required by Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023,” as detailed in the order published on the Supreme Court’s website on Wednesday. Protests and detentions occurred in Delhi following the stray dogs ruling.
