Animal Rights Groups Criticize Supreme Court Ruling on Stray Dogs

Quick Summary

• Animal rights organisations protested near India Gate on August 11, 2025, against the Supreme Court’s directive to relocate stray dogs from streets to shelters due to concerns over feasibility and methodology.
• Maneka Gandhi, former Union Minister and animal rights activist, criticized the ruling, stating Delhi would need up to 2,000 centres to accommodate tens of thousands of community dogs.
• PETA India deemed it “unfeasible” and expressed concerns about large-scale suffering for roughly 10 lakh stray dogs if forcibly removed.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The Supreme Court’s ruling on relocating stray dogs appears aimed at addressing public concerns about safety but has sparked notable opposition from animal rights groups. The challenge lies in balancing human safety with ethical treatment of animals.Critics argue this approach is logistically impractical and poses risks for animal welfare due to inadequate infrastructure. This conflict shows a broader need for collaboration between legal authorities, municipal bodies, and experts in animal care to devise sustainable solutions that respect both public interests and ethical values.

Read more: Supreme Court directs Delhi authorities