In a move that has ignited discussions on animal rights and public safety, Bollywood actor John Abraham has penned a letter to the Chief Justice of India, Justice B.R. Gavai, appealing for a review of the Supreme Court's recent directive concerning stray dogs in Delhi and its surrounding areas. The Supreme Court order mandates the removal of all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR streets and their relocation to shelters within an eight-week timeframe.
Abraham, a vocal advocate for animal welfare and PETA India's first honorary director, has characterized the Supreme Court's order as "illegal, impractical, and inhumane". He implores the Chief Justice to reconsider the directive, emphasizing that community dogs are integral to Delhi's urban environment, "respected and loved by many," and "very much Delhiites in their own right, having lived in the region as neighbours to humans for generations".
The actor's letter highlights a conflict between the Supreme Court's order and the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, which prioritize the sterilization, vaccination, and return of community dogs to their original habitats. Abraham argues that the ABC Rules, along with previous Supreme Court rulings, endorse a humane and scientific approach to managing community dog populations. He cites successful ABC programs in cities like Jaipur and Lucknow, where sterilization rates exceeding 70% have resulted in calmer animals, fewer territorial disputes, and a reduced risk of rabies.
Abraham warns that the removal of community dogs would create a vacuum, inviting unsterilized and unvaccinated dogs into the area, which would escalate territorial conflicts and public health dangers. He also points out the impracticality of sheltering or relocating Delhi's estimated 1 million community dogs.
The Supreme Court's decision has sparked a significant debate, pitting public safety advocates against animal rights supporters. The court's directive came after reports of increasing dog bite incidents and concerns about rabies, particularly affecting children. Data presented in parliament revealed over 3.7 million dog bite cases and 54 suspected rabies-related human deaths in 2024. The court has ordered authorities to create shelters for approximately 5,000 canines within 6 to 8 weeks and has stressed that no captured animal should be released back onto the streets. The bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan dismissed the ABC rules as "absurd" and ineffective, stating that public safety is the priority.
However, animal protection groups and activists have criticized the order as "impractical and inhumane," raising concerns about the lack of preparedness and the potential harm to the dogs. Critics, including former federal minister and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi, suggest that the Delhi government would need to find up to 2,000 centers to accommodate the city's large community dog population.
Abraham's appeal is a call for "compassion, science-based solutions and compliance with Indian law". He urges a review of the order to uphold constitutional values of coexistence and protect public health while honoring Delhi's community dogs. He emphasizes that sterilizing dogs also vaccinates them against rabies, which leads to calmer animals and fewer fights, since they don't have puppies to protect. He also notes that community dogs are territorial, which deters unsterilized, unvaccinated dogs from entering their areas.
The actor concludes his letter by respectfully requesting a review and modification of the judgment in favor of the lawful, humane, and effective ABC approach, which safeguards public health while honoring the constitutional values of compassion and coexistence. Other Bollywood figures, including Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan, have also voiced their concerns, advocating for alternative measures like large-scale sterilization programs, regular vaccination drives, community feeding zones, and adoption campaigns.
