Rahul Gandhi opposes SC's order to relocate stray dogs, says, "Voiceless souls are not problems to be erased"

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP criticized the Supreme Court's recent order to relocate stray dogs to shelters in Delhi-NCR. He called it a "step back from decades of humane, science-backed policy."  

He highlighted that "the voiceless souls" are not the "problems to be erased." In an X post, the Congress leader suggested that shelters, sterilisation, vaccination, and community care can keep the streets safe, "without cruelty". 

Adding, "Blanket removals are cruel, short-sighted, and strip us of compassion. We can ensure public safety and animal welfare go hand in hand." 

The SC’s directive to remove all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR is a step back from decades of humane, science-backed policy.

These voiceless souls are not “problems” to be erased.
Shelters, sterilisation, vaccination & community care can keep streets safe - without cruelty.

Blanket…

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 12, 2025

What is the Supreme Court's order? 

Rahul Gandhi's comments came after Supreme Court Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan gave a verdict that all localities in the Delhi-NCR region be made free of stray dogs, without any compromise. 

The Supreme Court bench ordered that none of the captured dogs would be released back on the streets. Further, if anyone obstructs the administration's capture drive will face contempt proceedings. 

Justice Pardiwala said in his statement, "If any individual or organization comes in the way of picking stray dogs or rounding them up, we will proceed to take action against any such resistance." 

The bench stated, "NCT Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, MCD, NMDC, shall start picking up stray dogs from all localities, particularly from more vulnerable localities. It is for localities to look into, if they have to create a force, do it at the earliest. 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 the exercise." 

Meanwhile, several animal rights activists, caregivers, rescuers, and dog lovers took to the streets in front of India Gate to protest against the Supreme Court's decision, which led to their detention. 

After being detained, one of the caregivers told PTI, "They don't want us to talk. These people are throwing everyone into jail. I am being detained because I do the noble work of feeding animals."