A heated street fight broke out outside the Supreme Court between a lawyer and a dog lover soon after the court ordered stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to be moved to shelter homes. The decision has triggered sharp reactions from animal activists, including Maneka Gandhi, over feasibility and cost concerns.
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NEW DELHI: A major incident occurred right outside the Supreme Court when a lawyer and a dog lover got into a physical altercation over the court’s recent order on stray dogs.
The order directs that stray dogs in residential areas be shifted to shelter homes.
In a now-viral video, the lawyer can be seen pulling a civilian, hitting him twice, and shouting in anger before bystanders stepped in to break up the fight.
The video is said to be from August 11, the same day the Supreme Court announced its ruling. In the clip, background voices can be heard shouting and hurling abuses at the lawyers present.
The dispute stems from Monday’s Supreme Court order instructing civic bodies in the Delhi NCR region — including Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram — to urgently construct shelter homes for stray dogs.
The court also directed that these shelters must be staffed with trained professionals who can handle dogs, perform sterilisation and immunisation, and be equipped with CCTV cameras to prevent escapes.
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Justice Pardiwala stated clearly:
“We are not doing this for us, it is for the public interest. So, no sentiments of any nature should be involved. Action should be taken at the earliest.”
He further instructed:
“Pick up dogs from all localities and shift them to shelters. For the time being, forget the rules.”
These remarks were addressed to amicus curiae Gaurav Agarwala, who had suggested measures to deal with the stray dog problem.
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The order comes in the wake of a growing number of dog bite cases in Delhi, some of which have resulted in rabies-related deaths.
But not everyone has welcomed the decision.
Prominent animal rights activist and former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi strongly opposed the ruling, calling it “impractical”, “financially unviable” and “potentially harmful” to the ecological balance of the region.
She pointed out:
“You have three lakh dogs in Delhi. To get them all off the roads, you’ll have to make 3,000 pounds, each with drainage, water, a shed, a kitchen, and a watchman.”
She also questioned the massive expenditure required, adding:
“That will cost about Rs 15,000 crore. Does Delhi have Rs 15,000 crore for this?”
In response to the growing uproar from different sections of society, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai assured that the Supreme Court will reconsider the order on stray dogs.
TODAY IN APEX COURT
In the Supreme Court, the long-debated issue of stray dogs once again came up for discussion.
The matter was raised by an advocate who highlighted the court’s earlier judgment on community dogs.
The advocate said:
“This is with regard to community dogs issue… There is an earlier judgment of this court which says there cannot be indiscriminate killing of canines of which Justice Karol was a part of… which says compasion for all living beings has to be there.”
In response, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai pointed out that another bench had already passed certain orders in the matter.
He said:
“But the other judge bench has already passed orders. I will look into this.”
Notably, just a few days earlier, on August 11, 2025, a bench led by Justice JB Pardiwala had directed that:
“All stray dogs in Delhi NCR shall be taken to dog shelters without exceptions.”
This issue continues to attract legal, public health, and animal rights concerns. The earlier judgment, as recalled by the advocate, emphasised that stray or community dogs cannot be killed indiscriminately, and that compassion towards all living beings is a guiding principle under Indian law.
At the same time, civic authorities and residents have been urging for effective population control and safety measures, especially in urban areas like Delhi-NCR where human-dog conflicts have been reported.
The CJI’s remark indicates that the matter may be revisited in light of earlier judgments and the more recent directions by another bench, which could lead to a harmonised approach balancing animal welfare with public safety.
LAST HEARING IN APEX COURT
The Supreme Court of India on Monday (Aug 11) gave strict orders to the Delhi Government, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to immediately start removing stray dogs from every locality of Delhi, starting with the most vulnerable areas and cities.
A Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan made it clear that no locality should have stray dogs roaming around and there should be absolutely no compromise in this work.
“NCT Delhi, MCD, NMDC shall at earlier start picking up stray dogs from all localities from more particularly vulnerable localities and cities. How to do it is for the authorities to look into and if they have to create a force, do it at earlier. However, this should be the first and foremost exercise to make all localities free of stray dogs. There should not be any compromise in undertaking any exercise,”
-the Bench said.
The judges also warned that anyone trying to stop or create problems in this work will face strict legal action from the court.
“If any individual or organization that comes in the way of picking stray dogs or rounding them up, we will proceed to take action against any such resistance,”
-the Court added.
Along with removal, the Court ordered the Delhi Government, MCD, and NDMC to create proper dog shelters with enough staff to sterilise and vaccinate the animals.
These shelters must also be monitored through CCTV cameras.
“The State of NCT Delhi, MCD and NDMC is directed to create dog shelters and report this Court creation of such infrastructure within 8 weeks. The dog shelters should have sufficient staff to sterilize and immunize. The dog shelter would be monitored by CCTV,”
-the order said.
The Bench also took a strong stand against certain animal rights activists, questioning their role when rabies cases are causing deaths.
“All these animal activists, will they be able bring back who have fallen prey to rabies,”
– the Bench demanded.
The judges further explained that this order is being passed purely for public safety and should be implemented without emotional or sentimental objections.
“We are not doing this for us—it is for the public interest. so no sentiments of any nature should be involved. Action should be taken at the earlier. Pick up dogs from all localities and shift them to far off places,”
-the Bench orally remarked.
The Supreme Court was hearing a suo motu case it had started on its own after repeated incidents of rabies infections and deaths caused by stray dog attacks.
Here are the top statements made by the Supreme Court while pronouncing the judgement:
- We need to pick up round up with whatever means to ensure dog free locality and that’s how children and aged will feel safe.
- Have you seen the classic good, bad and the ugly- when you want to shoot, shoot don’t talk. It’s not the time to talk but act. All these so-called animal lovers, will they be able to bring back those children who have given their lives?
- Municipal Corporation of Delhi is directed to make dog shelters and report about creation of infrastructure within eight weeks. It must have sufficient personnel for sterilised, dogs who would be detained there and not released in public places. It will be monitored by CCTV to monitor that no dogs are taken out.
- Infants and young children, not at any cost, should fall prey of rabies. The action should inspire confidence that they can move freely without fear of being bitten by stray dogs. No sentiments should be involved.
- Create helpline within 1 week so that all cases of dog bites and rabies are reported. Action should be taken within 4 hours to pick up dog after complaint is received and any action of individual or organisation coming in the way will be taken with stern action. The said dog will be sterilised and shall not be released.
CASE TITLE:
IN RE: CITY HOUNDED BY STRAYS, KIDS PAY PRICE
SMW(C) No. 5/2025
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