The Supreme Court is all set to pronounce its verdict on the matter related to shifting the stray dogs from the streets of Delhi-NCR to the animal shelters. The court had reserved its order after hearing arguments earlier this week, after the top court’s suo motu case over dog menace sparked a controversy.

• A three-judge bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria will pronounce the decision today.

• A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan had on August 11 taken a note of the dog bite incidents in the national capital, leading to rabies and deaths in some cases, and ordered the removal of the stray dogs from the streets and shift them to shelters within eight weeks.

• The court had also said in stern words that legal action would be taken against any individual or organisations trying to intervene with the implementation of the order.

• The top court also asked the Delhi government to start catching dogs, adding that it has to ensure they are not released back onto the roads.

• The order had sparked controversy and concerns among animal activists who feared the dogs being rounded up in an “inhumane" manner. People from all walks of life, including the film industry, sportspersons, and politicians, spoke on the matter on social media. While some supported the order, others opposed it.

• The outrage across the country led to the order of the top court being challenged, after which Chief Justice of India BR Gavai intervened and referred the matter to a three-judge bench.

• Politicians such as Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also reacted to the court’s August 11 order and termed it “shortsighted" and “non-scientific". “The SC’s directive to remove all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR is a step back from decades of humane, science-backed policy. These voiceless souls are not “problems" to be erased," Rahul Gandhi posted on X.

Source: News18