After the Supreme Court passed the judgement for removal of street dogs in Delhi, many celebrities including Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Sanya Malhotra, and Vir Das, took to social media to criticise the move. Actor John Abraham even wrote a letter to Chief Justice BR Gavai, urging a review and modification of the recent Supreme Court directive.
The 52-year-old actor, who was named the first honorary director of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, said dogs are not strays but rather part of the community and loved by many.
"I hope you will agree that these are not 'strays' but community dogs - respected and loved by many, and very much Delhiites in their own right, having lived in the region as neighbours to humans for generations," John said.
The actor stated that the directive is in conflict with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, and the apex court's past judgements on the issue which have consistently "upheld a methodical sterilisation programme".
"The ABC Rules prohibit the displacement of dogs, instead mandating their sterilisation, vaccination, and return to the very areas they inhabit. Where the ABC programme is implemented earnestly, it works," he said, giving the example of cities like Jaipur and Lucknow.
He added, "Delhi can achieve the same. During sterilisation, dogs are vaccinated against rabies, and sterilisation results in calmer animals, fewer fights and bites, as they have no puppies to protect. Because community dogs are territorial, they also deter unsterilised, unvaccinated dogs from entering their areas."
According to the actor, removing street dogs from public spaces doesn't guarantee a solution to the issue.
"Delhi has an estimated 10 lakh dogs. It is neither practical nor humane to shelter or relocate them all, and removal only opens the door for unfamiliar, unsterilised, and unvaccinated dogs to move in, leading to greater competition, territorial disputes, and public health risks.
"I respectfully request a review and modification of this judgment in favour of the lawful, humane, and effective ABC approach, which safeguards public health while honouring the constitutional values of compassion and coexistence, a stand the Supreme Court has consistently upheld since 2015."
Varun, Janhvi, and Sanya shared a note on their Instagram stories a part of which read, “They call it a menace. We call it a heartbeat. Today, the Supreme Court says -- take every stray dog off the streets of Delhi-NCR and lock them away. No sunlight. No freedom. No familiar faces greet every morning.”
"But these aren't just 'stray dogs'. They are the ones who wait outside your tea stall for a biscuit. They are the silent nightguards for shopkeepers. They are the tails wagging when children return from school. They are the warmth in a cold, uncaring city. Yes, there are problems - bites, safety concerns - but caging an entire community of animals is not a solution, it's an erasure. The real fix? Large-scale sterilisation programs, regular vaccination drives, community feeding zones, and adoption campaigns. Not punishment. Not imprisonment," it added.
Comedian Vir Das, on the other hand, urged Delhiites to consider adopting an indie dog. He posted a note on his Instagram which read, “If you're a resident of Delhi. Can I persuade you to adopt an indie off the streets, more than one? They're extremely healthy, low maintenance, and will provide you with more love, affection and gratitude than you could ever imagine."
"I'm also asking you to wholeheartedly and generously support your nearest animal welfare NGO. I plan on doing so, and I hope you will too. As appeals are filed in court and processes take their time, it's important for our humanity to kick in immediately. Please do your part, big or small; it all adds up,” he added. His post was accompanied by a picture of his pet indie dogs that the comedian adopted a few years ago.
It is to be noted that the Supreme Court has explicitly rejected the suggestion of allowing adoption, stating that “stray dogs should not become pet dogs overnight.”
On Monday, the Supreme Court directed all the strays to be removed and put in shelters by the Delhi government and civic bodies of Gurugram, Noida and Ghaziabad.
A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan noted that there was an "extremely grim" situation due to stray dog bites resulting in rabies, particularly among children.
The court has directed Delhi authorities to start with creating shelters for around 5,000 canines within six to eight weeks.
