NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court’s directive to remove all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR localities and relocate them to shelters within eight weeks has triggered a sharp divide across the region, with supporters welcoming the move for public safety reasons while opponents warn of cruelty and impracticality.Supporters cite public safety and rising dog attacksResident Welfare Associations (RWAs), families affected by stray dog attacks, and some government officials have welcomed the court’s order as a necessary step for public safety.Atul Goyal, president of the United Resident Joint Action (URJA), said, “Dog bite cases have been rising steadily, and this order will provide relief.” He added that action should also be taken against other animals like cattle causing road hazards.The family of six-year-old Chhavi Sharma, who died after a stray dog attack in June, described the judgment as “justice born out of unimaginable loss.” Krishna Devi, Chhavi’s aunt, said, “We hope no more children suffer like her.”Dheeraj Ahuja, whose son was mauled by a stray dog, called the directive “very much needed” but stressed the need for “a balance so humans and animals can coexist safely.”Government promises policy and structured implementationDelhi CM Rekha Gupta acknowledged the severity of the stray dog menace and assured that the government will formulate a policy for planned implementation of the Supreme Court’s order.She said, “Delhi people are fed up with stray dogs. The Supreme Court’s directions are important… We will provide relief through proper policy.”Delhi mayor Raja Iqbal Singh said the municipal corporation of delhi (MCD) will implement the order in phases, prioritizing dogs prone to biting or infected with rabies first. He emphasized collaboration with NGOs and pledged to scale up sterilisation programmes.“We have 20 operational shelter homes, and dogs will be treated as pets there,” Singh said. He also announced plans for a helpline and meetings with all agencies to create dog-free areas.Former Union minister Vijay Goel also hailed the top court’s order on the shifting of stray dogs to shelter homes as an endorsement of his ‘no dogs on streets policy’ demand.Goel claimed that on average, around 2,000 dog bites were reported in Delhi alone, and this figure could be around 5,000 if the National Capital Region (NCR) were included.The former Delhi BJP president has been running a movement for a solution to the growing menace of stray dogs through a non-profit organisation, Lok Abhiyan, for the last two years.Data from the integrated disease surveillance programme shows dog bite cases rose from 6,691 in 2022 to over 25,000 in 2024 in Delhi, underscoring the urgency of addressing the problem.Opposition warns of cruelty, practical challenges, and legal concernsAnimal rights activists, welfare groups, and some politicians have condemned the order as “inhumane,” “impractical,” and legally questionable.Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized the order on social media. Rahul Gandhi called it “a step back from decades of humane, science-backed policy,” emphasizing that “shelters, sterilisation, vaccination & community care can keep streets safe without cruelty.”Priyanka Gandhi described the forced relocation as “horrendously inhumane” and stressed that “dogs are the most beautiful, gentle creatures” undeserving of such treatment.Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale wrote to Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, requesting a stay on the Supreme Court’s order. He contended the directive contravenes the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, and urged for a committee of experts and stakeholders to devise a humane, consultative solution.Gokhale cautioned that the eight-week deadline makes it “almost impossible” to establish sufficient shelters, risking consigning stray dogs “to certain death in extremely inhumane conditions.” He also criticized the directive for antagonizing animal caregivers and feeders.Animal rights groups warn of chaos and crueltyAnimal welfare organisations such as Peta India, Humane World for Animals, and activists, including former Union minister Maneka Gandhi and Nikhil Mahesh, denounced the order as “impractical,” “illegal,” and “financially unviable.”Peta India’s Shaurya Agrawal said, “The Delhi government had 24 years to implement sterilisation programs… Housing 10 lakh dogs in shelters is impossible. This will create chaos.”Maneka Gandhi estimated the cost of adequate shelters at Rs 15,000 crore and warned the ecological balance could be harmed. Nikhil Mahesh called the order “childish” and predicted increased panic and conflict.Rescue groups reported a surge in calls for help following the order, with some owners abandoning their pets due to fear. Animal birth control centres said they were uncertain about where to house sterilised dogs, given the new directive forbids returning them to streets.Veterinarian Dr Yasin Hussain described the order as “ill-thought-out and arbitrary,” questioning the feasibility of building enough shelters in the given timeframe.Celebrities condemn SC orderActors Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan shared a powerful note on Instagram, stating, “They call it a menace. We call it a heartbeat.” The note condemned the order as an “erasure” of a community of animals, urging instead for large-scale sterilisation, vaccination drives, community feeding zones, and adoption campaigns as real solutions.Director Siddharth Anand likened the court’s decision to a “genocide,” warning about the fate of dogs in shelters where they could starve and suffer. “There’s just no compassion left… the death warrant the SC has signed,” he said, calling for petitions to halt the order.Comedian Vir Das appealed to residents to adopt stray dogs, highlighting their loyalty and low maintenance, while encouraging support for animal welfare NGOs during the ongoing legal appeals.Actor Varun Grover emphasised that the stray dog problem was created by humans who block sterilisation efforts and criticized the order for mandating relocation to non-existent shelters. “Rabies cases are a failure of the system; the solution can’t be forced starvation or trauma,” he said, hoping for collective solutions from activists and authorities.Singer Chinmayi Sripaada called the order a “death sentence,” pointing out the broader issue of abandoned pets and the lack of shelters. Actor John Abraham wrote to the Chief Justice, urging a review, stressing that these are community dogs deeply integrated into Delhi’s social fabric and that the order conflicts with existing animal birth control rules and previous court rulings.Other celebrities including Bhumi Pednekar, Ananya Panday, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Vikramaditya Motwane, Vijay Varma, Zoya Akhtar, and Shefali Shah voiced their opposition, highlighting concerns over the lack of adequate shelter facilities, feeding, and care for relocated dogs. Akhtar invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s words on the moral progress of a nation being judged by how it treats animals, calling for humane solutions.Legal experts and public voices question the court’s roleSome legal experts, including lawyer and dog lover Nishaank Mattoo, questioned the Supreme Court’s intervention, saying it oversteps judicial boundaries by effectively making policy rather than interpreting laws.Mattoo pointed out that under current law, dogs can only be displaced if suffering from rabies and must be returned after sterilisation.The court acknowledged the problem as “extremely grim” and directed swift action, warning of contempt proceedings against obstruction.Pushback from animal loversProtests erupted at India Gate with animal lovers, feeders, and rescuers opposing the order, calling for enforcement of animal birth control rules focusing on sterilisation, vaccination, and community care rather than removal.Delhi Police registered FIRs against protestors under sections related to disobedience to public orders. Former Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung criticized the FIRs as “childish” and appealed for their withdrawal.About 15 protesters were detained following scuffles with police.Protesters argued that community dogs should not be confined to shelters and called for strict implementation of animal birth control (ABC) Rules involving sterilisation, vaccination, and return of dogs to their original localities.“Please let them be free. They are like small kids,” one demonstrator pleaded.They warned that forced mass relocation would break bonds between dogs and local communities and could increase suffering due to overcrowded shelters.Experts call for humane, science-backed solutionsAnimal welfare experts warn that forced removal without adequate shelters will cause suffering and worsen human-animal conflict.Dr Mini Aravindan of PA India urged strengthening sterilisation and vaccination efforts, closing illegal pet shops, and promoting adoption.Alokparna Sengupta of Humane World for Animals called relocation “misguided and counterproductive,” advocating for scaled-up animal birth control programmes as the only scientific solution.(With inputs from agencies)