‘Grounded in science’: Rahul Gandhi praises Supreme Court’s revised stray dogs order

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court’s revised guidelines on stray dogs, calling it a progressive step that balances animal welfare with public safety.

The Supreme Court tweaked its August 11 order, which had directed the relocation of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to shelters within eight weeks. The new directive states that stray dogs will be released back after sterilisation, provided they are not rabid or aggressive, instead of being kept in shelters.

“I welcome the Supreme Court’s revised directions on stray dogs, as it marks a progressive step toward balancing animal welfare and public safety. The approach is both compassionate and rooted in scientific reasoning,” Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

The original order, passed by a two-judge bench during a suo motu hearing, had sparked widespread backlash from activists and animal lovers. As a result, the case was transferred to a three-judge bench, which heard the matter on August 14 and reserved its judgment.

While the court softened its stance on releasing stray dogs, it reiterated a strict ban on feeding them on public streets. The bench said those caught feeding stray dogs on streets could face legal action under relevant laws.

Public officials facing obstruction in enforcing these rules are free to take action against offenders. Additionally, any NGO or individual causing hindrance may be required to pay ₹25,000 in costs, according to the three-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria.