Supreme Court's Stray Dog Ruling Sparks Nationwide Protests and Legal Debate

In New Delhi on August 11^th a Supreme Court ruling ordering the removal of all stray dogs from public streets and their relocation to shelters has sparked widespread outrage, protests, and legal concerns across India.

The directive, delivered by Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, drew immediate backlash, particularly in Delhi and Mumbai, where citizens took to the streets in protest. The order has also stirred debate among legal experts and animal welfare advocates.

In response to the public outcry, Chief Justice B.R. Gavai appointed a larger bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justices Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria. This new bench has since reserved its decision on an interim plea seeking a stay on the original order.

Animal lovers, legal scholars, and prominent public figures—including former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool MP Sushmita Dev, actor John Abraham, and comedian Vir Das—have criticized the ruling. Their concerns center around both the ethics and practical implications of such mass removals.

Reports indicate that local authorities began rounding up stray dogs even before the court’s order was officially published, raising further alarm.

A video of the court proceedings went viral, showing Justice Pardiwala rejecting all intervention requests from animal welfare advocates: “All requests for interventions are rejected,” he stated.

Legal experts argue this dismissal violates the principle of audi alteram partem, the right to be heard, suggesting a breach of procedural fairness.

Fueling further controversy, Justice Pardiwala publicly criticized the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, calling them “absurd.” The rules mandate that vaccinated and sterilized community dogs be returned to their original locations. Pardiwala questioned the logic behind this: “Why should that stray dog come back to that locality? What’s the idea behind it?”

However, the 2025 Animal Birth Control Module highlights why this return policy exists. When dogs are removed from their territories, other dogs quickly move in. These newcomers are often unvaccinated, leading to territorial fights, increased aggression, and heightened risk of rabies transmission—undermining public health and safety efforts.

With the legal battle now in limbo, the issue has opened a broader conversation about animal rights, urban management, and how justice should be administered in a democracy.