'I will look into it', CJI BR Gavai after stray dog matter mentioned in Supreme Court

Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai on Wednesday said he would review the recent Supreme Court directive ordering the removal of stray dogs from Delhi’s streets, after the matter was brought to his attention by a lawyer. The counsel argued that the August 11 order contradicted an earlier Supreme Court ruling—co-authored by Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Manoj Misra—which had stressed that there should be no indiscriminate killing of canines and that compassion must extend to all living beings. Responding briefly, CJI Gavai acknowledged the concern and assured, “I will look into this,” even as a separate Bench had already issued instructions for immediate removal. The August 11 directive, delivered by Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, instructed the Delhi government, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to start clearing stray dogs from every neighbourhood—particularly in high-risk areas—and relocate them to designated shelters. The Bench stressed that making all localities “free of stray dogs” was the primary goal and told authorities to form special units if necessary to carry out the task without delay.

The order further stated that any individual or organisation obstructing the operation could face contempt of court proceedings. It also directed state and civic bodies to set up adequately staffed shelters within eight weeks, ensure sterilisation and vaccination of the animals, maintain daily records of captured dogs, and refrain from releasing any back onto the streets. Additionally, it called for a helpline to be launched within a week to report dog bite incidents, along with public information on where rabies vaccines are available. During the hearing, Justice Pardiwala criticised certain animal rights activists for hindering removal efforts, questioning whether they could “bring back those who have lost their lives to rabies.” The suo motu proceedings stemmed from a spate of rabies-related deaths and repeated incidents of stray dog attacks in Delhi-NCR. The ruling sparked strong pushback from animal welfare groups, with many staging demonstrations against what they viewed as an excessive and indiscriminate approach to managing the city’s stray population.