New Delhi: On Tuesday, actor John Abraham wrote to Chief Justice B R Gavai, urging a reconsideration and amendment of the Supreme Court’s recent directive to remove street dogs from the Delhi NCR region. This letter came a day after the Court ordered authorities to relocate all stray dogs from public areas to shelters “at the earliest.”
Abraham, who was recently appointed as the first honorary director of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, emphasized that these dogs are not mere strays but integral members of the community, cherished by many.
“These are not ‘strays’ but community dogs—respected and loved by many, and true Delhiites in their own right, having coexisted alongside humans for generations,” he stated.
He pointed out that the Court’s directive conflicts with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, and previous Supreme Court rulings that have consistently supported a systematic sterilization approach.
“The ABC Rules prohibit displacement of dogs and instead require their sterilization, vaccination, and return to their original locations. Where the ABC program is properly implemented, it is effective,” Abraham explained, citing successful examples like Jaipur and Lucknow.
The actor added that Delhi could achieve similar results. “Sterilization includes vaccination against rabies and leads to calmer dogs, fewer fights, and bites since they have no puppies to protect. Community dogs are territorial, which also prevents unsterilized, unvaccinated dogs from entering their areas.”
He cautioned that removing street dogs from public spaces is neither practical nor humane, given Delhi’s estimated dog population of one million. “It is impossible to shelter or relocate them all, and removal invites unfamiliar, unsterilized, unvaccinated dogs to move in, causing more competition, territorial conflicts, and health risks.”
Abraham respectfully requested a review and modification of the judgment to favor the lawful, humane, and effective ABC approach, which protects public health while upholding constitutional values of compassion and coexistence—principles the Supreme Court has consistently supported since 2015.
On Monday, the Supreme Court directed the Delhi government and civic bodies of Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad to remove all stray dogs and place them in shelters. A bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan highlighted the “extremely grim” situation caused by stray dog bites leading to rabies, especially in children.
The Court ordered the authorities to create shelters for about 5,000 dogs within six to eight weeks.
