Letters to The Editor — August 16, 2026
The statement by an animal rights activist that rabies is a 'halki beemari (mild illness') is outrageous. Rabies is a lethal virus with 100% mortality, causing a prolonged, painful death. Such statements reflect an indefensibly callous attitude, which ignores the danger that aggressive street dogs pose to working people, who cannot sequester themselves in their homes like the elite. However, the Supreme Court of India's directive that all dogs in Delhi must be captured within eight weeks is unfeasible and inhumane. The scientific method to control the canine population is by implementing the Animal Birth Control rules. The Municipal Corporation should partner with welfare organisations to sterilise and vaccinate dogs. Rather than mass culling, sick dogs and those that routinely attack people should be selectively euthanised. The Public Health Department should ensure that all hospitals and mohalla clinics have stocks of rabies and tetanus vaccines, alongside an awareness campaign that both injections must be administered within 24 hours of a dog bite. If these protocols are rigorously implemented, there will be no street dogs and no rabies deaths in the near future.
Aarti Sethi,
New Delhi
Doorstep ration delivery
I was pleasantly surprised when the two women who usually handle the sale of ration items in the government shop in my area called me to say that they were at my gate. They were from the women's co-operative stores. Everything was executed smoothly but the women looked exhausted and were struggling with poor wi-fi connectivity. If senior citizens are to benefit from this scheme — it is called the 'Thaayumanavar Thittam' and is meant for senior citizens — they should have their cards and containers ready. With this step, the mobile delivery of rations would be much easier for government staff.
Mini Krishnan,
Chennai
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Letters to The Editor — August 16, 2026
Stray dog control The statement by an animal rights activist that rabies is a 'halki beemari (mild illness') is outrageous. Rabies is a lethal virus with 100% mortality, causing a prolonged, painful death. Such statements reflect an indefensibly callous attitude, which ignores the danger that aggressive street dogs pose to working people, who cannot sequester themselves in their homes like the elite. However, the Supreme Court of India's directive that all dogs in Delhi must be captured within eight weeks is unfeasible and inhumane. The scientific method to control the canine population is by implementing the Animal Birth Control rules. The Municipal Corporation should partner with welfare organisations to sterilise and vaccinate dogs. Rather than mass culling, sick dogs and those that routinely attack people should be selectively euthanised. The Public Health Department should ensure that all hospitals and mohalla clinics have stocks of rabies and tetanus vaccines, alongside an awareness campaign that both injections must be administered within 24 hours of a dog bite. If these protocols are rigorously implemented, there will be no street dogs and no rabies deaths in the near future. Aarti Sethi, New Delhi Doorstep ration delivery I was pleasantly surprised when the two women who usually handle the sale of ration items in the government shop in my area called me to say that they were at my gate. They were from the women's co-operative stores. Everything was executed smoothly but the women looked exhausted and were struggling with poor wi-fi connectivity. If senior citizens are to benefit from this scheme — it is called the 'Thaayumanavar Thittam' and is meant for senior citizens — they should have their cards and containers ready. With this step, the mobile delivery of rations would be much easier for government staff. Mini Krishnan, Chennai
News18
3 days ago
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Stray dogs issue needs to be resolved, not contested: Delhi Govt to SC
New Delhi, Aug 14 (PTI) The Delhi government on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that issue of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR needed a resolution and need not be contested for children were dying of rabies due to dog bites. While the Delhi government referred to data of dog bites to buttress its arguments, those seeking a stay on the apex court's August 11 order said the government should not try to create a 'horror situation" that people were dying from rabies. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan then asked authorities in Delhi-NCR to start relocating all stray dogs from streets to shelters. The authorities were asked to initially start by creating a shelter to house 5,000 dogs. The matter came up for hearing on Thursday before a three-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria. The bench reserved its order on the interim prayer for a stay on some of the directions of August 11 and said the 'whole problem" relating to stray dogs was a result of 'inaction" on the part of local authorities. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi government, said every country had a very vocal minority and a silent suffering majority. 'There is a vocal minority. I have seen videos, interviews. People eating meat, chicken, etc., and now posing as animal lovers and objecting to this," he said. Mehta added, 'It is an issue to be resolved, not a matter to be contested. Children are dying." He said sterilisation of dogs did not stop rabies and immunisation did not stop mutiliation of children and adults. Referring to data, he said in 2024 alone, the country reported over 37 lakh dog bite cases. Mehta also referred to a media report and said the World Health Organisation (WHO) using government and other authentic sources reported 305 death in a year. 'Ultimately, the solution is not in the rules (Animal Birth Control Rules). Your lordships will have to intervene," Mehta said. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal was representing an NGO seeking a stay on some of the August 11 directions when he said, 'They (authorities) are going and picking up dogs. Where will they go? They will be culled and that is what is going to happen." Sibal questioned authorities over non sterilisation of stray dogs. 'What has the municipal corporation done for so many years? Have they built shelter homes? Have they sterilised? What happens is, they have got money for sterilisation but as your lordships know, money itself get siphoned," he said. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi referred to data given in Parliament and said there were zero rabies deaths in Delhi from 2022 to 2025. 'But to try and create a horror situation that people left, right and centre are dying from rabies, atleast the government should look at its own figures by its own minister on the floor of the House a few weeks ago," Singhvi said. One of the advocates said everybody was 'making a noise" for the protection of dogs and asked, 'What about human beings?" Another advocate seeking a stay on the August 11 directions said this was a 'complex issue" and people from NGOs were unable to place the relevant materials before the order was passed. On August 11, a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan in a suo motu case asked authorities in Delhi-NCR to immediately create dog shelters or pounds and report to it about the creation of such infrastructure within eight weeks. It had barred release of strays from shelters. PTI ABA ABA AMK AMK view comments First Published: August 14, 2025, 16:30 IST News agency-feeds Stray dogs issue needs to be resolved, not contested: Delhi Govt to SC Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
