Congress leader Shashi Tharoor responded to the Supreme Court’s recent order on managing stray dogs in Delhi, calling for a rethink in how funds meant for the task are used, suggesting they be given directly to credible animal welfare organisations instead of municipalities, which he alleged often fail to utilise them for rounding up and neutering stray dogs despite allocations.

In a post on X, Tharoor said, “We need to protect humans while being humane to dogs."

The Thiruvananthapuram MP, however, pointed to what he called a deeper flaw in the system — not a shortage of resources, but “the unwillingness or inability of municipalities to perform the task of rounding up and neutering stray dogs, even when funds have been provided." He alleged that these funds “are never actually spent where needed — in making the arrangements that the SC, in understandable exasperation, has now decreed."

Suggesting a solution, Tharoor wrote, “Perhaps the funds should instead be allotted to Animal Welfare groups and sincere NGOs with a track record of sheltering animals? They are more likely to implement the ABC programme than the municipalities are."

His remarks come after the Supreme Court on August 11 directed the Delhi civic body to round up stray dogs, sterilise them, and permanently house them in shelters to make the capital safe.

The bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said there should be “no compromise" on the drive and warned of strict action against anyone obstructing it. The court also ordered the creation of dog shelters with adequate staff and CCTV within eight weeks and mandated that sterilised dogs should not be released back onto the streets.

The first phase of the drive targets the capture of 5,000 stray dogs from high-risk areas within six weeks, with daily logs to be maintained and strict penalties for any violations.

Source: News18