‘Unscientific and inhumane': Activists say Supreme Court order goes against govt's 2023 rule; Peta for effective sterilisation programme
The activists also pointed out that Delhi-NCR does not have a single govt-run dog shelter.
They also wondered how dogs could be shifted without a headcount of an area's canine population. "The logical way is to first conduct a dog census, arrive at a coherent definition of 'aggressive dogs', then shift them to shelters," said animal activist Sonya Ghosh. tnn
'Order shows misunderstanding of issue'
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Ghosh felt that the order would put the central govt and the judiciary in conflict if the directive on relocation of dogs was to be implemented.
"The ABC Rules do not permit the permanent relocation of strays," Ghosh said.
"It seems that there is a lack of awareness on the court's part that, at present, there are no govt shelters for dogs in the region. Eight weeks is a very short time to set up the required shelters. Also, the civic bodies lack the manpower required for action."
Alokparna Sengupta, managing director, Humane World for Animals India, said the directive to round up dogs was both scientifically unsound and practically unachievable.
"This approach demonstrates a misunderstanding of the issue, law and the science that governs it. Particularly since govt hasn't successfully implemented birth control programmes, which should be the primary focus rather than simply relocating the dogs," said Sengupta.
Peta India similarly felt that an efficient sterilisation programme would be a better option. In a statement, it said, "If Delhi govt implemented an effective dog sterilisation programme, there would hardly be any dogs on the road today.
It isn't too late to start control programmes. Instead of wasting time, effort and public resources on ineffective and inhumane displacement drives, an effective sterilisation programme is still the solution and urgent need.
"
Peta said other important measures would include the closure of illegal pet shops and breeders that contribute to animal abandonment. It also batted for encouraging the public to take in a dog in need from an animal shelter or off the street.
Advocate Nanita Sharma, who regularly takes up dog-related cases, said the order was unprecedented and against the law laid down by the Supreme Court as well as the high courts. "ABC Rules are the only effective, humane and sustainable approach to managing the dog population in India. However, the authorities haven't performed their statutory duties or seriously conducted sterilisation programmes in spite of lakhs of rupees being granted for this particular purpose.
This is not a dog menace, but a human menace of corruption and apathy," Sharma said.
Meanwhile, the dog-loving community staged a protest to condemn the court order. The protest started near the court premises before moving to India Gate around 6.30pm. The protest, led by animal activist Manavi Rai, was eventually dispersed by Delhi Police at India Gate. A police officer said 25-30 people were detained while protesting on Janpath.
Chinchil Gupta said, "This order should not have been given in a country that believes in peaceful coexistence. Just because these poor creatures can't speak for themselves, they can't be evicted from our localities. As for rabies, the cases will subside with proper vaccination and sterilisation, so the civic authorities should focus on that."
A lawyer, who wished not to be identified, added, "I have no issue with changing the ABC Rules as it's incapable of addressing the situation. But ordering the removal of all the community dogs from residential localities to shelters, whether they are vaccinated or not, is an extreme step I didn't expect." Rahul Sharma, another animal supporter, echoed the sentiment. "What's not sitting well with me is why a dog needs to be relocated if it's vaccinated and sterilised.
Once vaccinated and sterilised, it's not a rabies threat nor does it breed," he argued.
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What's the ongoing story: Stephen Alter writes-'This year's monsoon has been particularly destructive in the lower Himalaya, causing devastating erosion and flash floods in many parts of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.' Key Points to Ponder: — What are the ecological challenges faced by the Himalayan states? — How are extreme climate events causing disasters in the Himalayan region? — What is the interplay between natural climatic events and anthropogenic factors in causing disasters in the Himalayan region? — What are the factors behind the increasing vulnerability of Himalayan towns to flash floods and erosion? — Read about the Char Dham project. — What are cloudbursts? Is the frequency of cloudbursts increasing? Can cloudbursts be forecast? — Why do cloudbursts mostly occur in hilly or mountainous areas, and how can they lead to flash floods? — What should India do to reduce the risk of future catastrophe? Key Takeaways: — 'As early as mid-May, heavy rain struck the mountains, several weeks before the anticipated arrival of the monsoon. Friends and neighbours in my hometown of Mussoorie blamed these unexpected storms on 'climate change', shaking their heads with fatalistic despair. Somehow, they seemed to forget that violent pre-monsoon thunderstorms have occurred in Mussoorie for generations.' — 'Without a doubt, rapidly rising temperatures on our planet and the increasing presence of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere pose an enormous risk to the future of life on Earth as we know it. However, automatically blaming erratic weather on climate change often distracts us from the real causes and consequences. Unfortunately, this repeated refrain has become an alternative to the old, weather-beaten phrase, 'acts of god,' which insurance companies always invoked as a disclaimer.' — 'In recent memory, we have seen the catastrophic flash floods of 2013, when Kedarnath and the Mandakini Valley were inundated by an unstoppable surge of water and debris caused by a glacial outburst that was triggered by excessive rain. Two years earlier, in 2011, the Assi Ganga Valley near Uttarkashi was scoured of life by a powerful flood that washed away a large hydropower project along with many labourers who were camped by the river.' — 'All of this is to say that the tragic consequences of a heavy monsoon in populated areas of the Himalaya is not something new or unexpected. What has changed is the indiscriminate, unplanned and often illegal construction of homes, guesthouses, ashrams, hotels, Maggi points and military camps that lie directly in the path of potential flash floods.' — 'Much of the recent construction along the Char Dham Yatra route in Uttarakhand is in response to constantly increasing numbers of pilgrims visiting sacred sites near the sources of the Ganga. These were once remote shrines that devotees approached on foot, but they are now interconnected by ever-widening motor roads, not to mention helicopter services. Without some sort of control over the number of visitors that travel through these valleys, the magnitude of forthcoming disasters will only increase.' — 'The true consequences of global warming will be far more profound and prolonged than the natural disasters we are seeing today. Shifting weather patterns and melting glaciers in the — — — Himalaya are certainly part of the outcome. However, by always pointing a finger at climate change, we distance ourselves from the more immediate and avoidable factors that make these crises so horrendous and painfully familiar.' Do You Know: — As changing climate has destabilised weather patterns, in order to saving lives and reduce damage during natural disasters effective early warning systems are critical. For the same expanding and modernising weather monitoring infrastructure, especially in the Himalayas and fragile mountain regions, is essential. Establishing more Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) and utilising satellite-based observation systems can provide real-time data critical for early warnings. — Integrating ecological solutions into broader infrastructure planning is vital. As Anjal Prakash explains 'Instead of relying solely on grey infrastructure (such as dams and embankments), India must embrace ecological solutions — restoring wetlands, mangroves, and natural sponge zones that absorb floodwaters and reduce runoff. These nature-based solutions are cost-effective, sustainable, and adaptable to changing climate conditions. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍UPSC Issue at a Glance | Uttarkashi Cloudburst: What UPSC aspirants must-know for Prelims and Mains Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: (4) Which of the following statements with regard to cloudburst is/are correct? (UPSC CDS 2017) 1. It is defined as sudden localized very heavy downpour with cloud thunder and lightning. 2. It mostly occurs in the hilly areas. 3. It results into very high intensity of rainfall, i.e., 250 mm-300 mm in a couple of hours. 4. It occurs only during the daytime. Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 1, 2, and 3 (b) 1, 3, and 4 (c) 2 and 3 (d) 2 only Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at
