The letter came a day after the Supreme Court directed the authorities to permanently relocate all strays from streets to shelters "at the earliest".
The 52-year-old, who was named the first honorary director of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, said dogs are not strays but rather part of the community and loved by many.
"I hope you will agree that these are not 'strays' but community dogs - respected and loved by many, and very much Delhiites in their own right, having lived in the region as neighbours
"With an estimated 10 lakh community dogs, Delhi’s canine population are its true
residents," he wrote. "It is neither practical nor humane to shelter or relocate them
all."
The apex court on Monday ordered the Delhi government and civic bodies to start picking up strays from the localities and keep them in shelters, warning of strict action against anyone obstructing it. Many celebrities expressed their disappointment with the order on social media.
Varun Dhawan reshared a note on their respective Instagram. menace. We call it a heartbeat. Today, the Supreme Court says - take away every stray dog of the streets of Delhi-NCR and lock them away. No sunlight. No freedom. No familiar faces they greet every morning," the note read.
"Yes, there are problems - bites, safety concerns - but caging an entire community of animals is not solution but an erasure. The real fix? Large-scale sterilization programs, regular vaccination, unity feeding zones, and adoption campaigns. Not
With added inputs from agencies
