Supreme Court’s Progressive Ruling on Stray Dogs Welcomed by Rahul Gandhi, Animal Lovers Across India

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has welcomed the Supreme Court’s latest decision regarding stray dogs, calling it a progressive move that balances animal welfare and public safety. The Supreme Court recently overturned a previous two-judge bench verdict, ruling that sterilized and vaccinated stray dogs should be released back to the same places from where they were picked up, rather than being kept in shelters.

This decision has been enthusiastically received by animal lovers nationwide. Rahul Gandhi, expressing his happiness, stated that the court’s ruling is not only compassionate but also grounded in scientific reasoning. He emphasized that such an approach would help maintain harmony between human society and stray animals.

Taking to social media, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “I welcome the Supreme Court’s revised guidelines on stray dogs. This is a progressive step towards balancing animal welfare and public safety. The approach is both compassionate and scientifically sound.” Gandhi has consistently advocated for a middle path, suggesting earlier that a solution should be found that is humane and practical.

The Supreme Court, led by Justice Vikram Nath and a three-judge special bench, clarified that the new order does not apply to aggressive or rabies-infected dogs. The bench also instructed that all states and union territories be made parties to the case, and all related cases pending in other high courts be transferred to the Supreme Court for a unified national policy.

The court further ordered that after sterilization and vaccination, stray dogs should be released back to their original areas. To address violations, a helpline will be set up for complaints, and NGOs involved in the process will receive a payment of ₹25,000 for building necessary facilities.

Previously, a split in public opinion emerged when a two-judge bench had directed the removal of all stray dogs from Delhi NCR, a move Rahul Gandhi criticized as being against long-standing humane and scientific policies. He argued that strays are not problems to be eliminated but living beings deserving of compassion and community care.

With the new ruling, Rahul Gandhi and countless animal welfare supporters see hope for a more balanced, sensitive, and effective approach to managing stray dog populations in India.