Priya Dutt Calls SC Verdict On Relocating Stray Dogs In Delhi 'Heartbreaking', Quotes Mahatma Gandhi

Former MP and animal rights advocate Priya Dutt has voiced strong criticism of the Supreme Court's recent order to relocate all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to shelters, a move that has sparked outrage among animal lovers nationwide.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Dutt, who is actor Sanjay Dutt's sister, wrote: "Mahatma Gandhi once said, 'The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.' Sadly, the recent High Court judgement on stray animals takes us further away from this ideal (sic)."

She added, "Heartbreaking for every voice that can’t speak for itself. Unfortunately our courts show kindness to humans who commit the most heinous crimes but not to animals who can't even defend themselves."

Her comments came amid protests at India Gate, where animal rights activists, rescuers, caregivers, and dog lovers demonstrated against the Supreme Court’s ruling. Delhi Police later detained several protesters.

Earlier on Monday (August 11), the Supreme Court, in a suo motu hearing on dog bite incidents, directed the Delhi government to begin removing stray dogs from all public areas within eight weeks. The animals are to be housed in shelters, not released back onto the streets, with facilities capable of accommodating around 5,000 dogs. The shelters must be staffed adequately for sterilisation and immunisation procedures.

Calling the situation "extremely grim," the bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan stated, "We are issuing these directions keeping larger public interest in mind," stressing that infants and young children should not fall victim to dog bites leading to rabies.

The verdict has drawn sharp criticism from animal welfare groups. Reportedly, PETA India Advocacy Associate Shaurya Agrawal labelled the directive "impractical, illogical and… according to the animal birth control rules, also illegal." He argued that Delhi is home to an estimated one million stray dogs, making the idea of housing them all in shelters unfeasible.

Animal welfare activists fear that the relocation order could lead to overcrowding, poor living conditions, and neglect in shelters, worsening rather than solving the problem.