The decision to refer the matter to a larger bench comes after major public uproar and backlash following the first SC order.
The Supreme Court has formed a larger bench to hear the matter after an order for blanket “removal” of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR led to a major uproar. The hearing before the three-judge bench is set for Thursday, August 14.The listing came just a few hours after the issue was mentioned before the Chief Justice, BR Gavai, in open court, to which he said, “I will look into it.”On August 11, a two-judge bench ruled that all strays be removed and shifted to shelters, and set its next hearing for four weeks later. The matter, however, is now set to be heard by a bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria.In the two-judge bench’s order, the SC told authorities to round up stray dogs, starting with 5,000 in the next six to eight weeks. The order further stated that under no circumstances should the dogs be released back onto the streets.
“The stray dogs shall be captured, sterilized, dewormed and immunized as required by Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023,”
The decision to refer the matter to a larger bench came after major public uproar against the two-judge bench’s order. Several politicians, celebrities and animal rights activists argued that the issue could be addressed using longer-term but more effective, scientific methods such as sterilisation, vaccination, and community care for the strays.
Four members of the Gandhi family – Rahul Gandhi, his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, their cousin Varun Gandhi and his mother Maneka Gandhi, who is among India’s most prominent animal rights activists – expressed their concerns.
In a post on X, Lok Sabha leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi wrote: “Blanket removals are cruel, shortsighted and strip us of compassion.. These voiceless souls are not ‘problems’ to be erased. Shelters, sterilisation, vaccination and community care can keep streets safe — without cruelty… We can ensure public safety and animal welfare go hand in hand.”
Several dog lovers, animal rights activists and other protestors were detained near India Gate in Delhi while protesting against the order the same night.
The order was also termed as “impractical, illogical, and illegal” by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India.
New Delhi, After widespread protests across the country following a top court verdict on relocation of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR, a new three-judge bench of the Supreme Court will hear the suo motu case on Thursday.When some petitioners in another stray dogs-related case mentioned their plea while referring to the August 11 verdict before the Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, he said he “will look into it”.
On August 11, a bench of Justices Pardiwala and Mahadevan observed instances of dog bites had given rise to an “extremely grim” situation and ordered the permanent relocation of all strays in Delhi-NCR “at the earliest”.
On Wednesday, the lawyer referred to a May 2024 order passed by a bench led by Justice J K Maheshwari relegating petitions relating to the stray dog issue to respective high courts.
The plea by Conference for Human Rights claims the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2001 mandating regular sterilisation and immunisation programmes for stray dogs to curtail their growing population are not being complied with.
In its August 11 ruling, the apex court also said dog shelters will have to be augmented over time and directed Delhi authorities to start with creating shelters of around 5,000 canines within six to eight weeks.
Besides, the bench warned of strict action against an individual or organisation in case of any kind of obstruction in the relocation drive that might also prompt the court to initiate contempt proceedings.