The Supreme Court order to remove stray dogs from the streets of Delhi-NCR has sparked widespread debate and strong reactions from Bollywood celebrities, including John Abraham. The court’s directive mandates
that all stray dogs must be cleared from public spaces within eight weeks and moved to dedicated shelters arranged by local authorities. The actor, a well-known animal rights supporter, has also stepped in to voice his concern.
In an urgent appeal to the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, Justice BR. Gavai, John Abraham, requested a review of the order. In his letter to the Chief Justice, the actor wrote, “It has been widely reported that a recent judgment by the Division Bench comprising Hon’ble Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Hon’ble Justice R. Mahadevan has directed the removal of all stray dogs in Delhi from public spaces to shelters or far-off areas.”
Further emphasising the bond between citizens and street dogs, he added, “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 to humans for generations.”
John Abraham On Community Dogs
John’s plea reflects the sentiments of countless pet lovers and animal welfare activists who believe community dogs are part of the city’s culture. “It is neither practical nor humane to shelter or relocate them all, and removal only opens the door for unfamiliar, unsterilised, and unvaccinated dogs to move in—leading to greater competition, territorial disputes and public health risks.”
John Abraham Requests For Modification
Later in his letter, John Abraham requested the modification, saying, “I respectfully request a review and modification of this judgment in favour of the lawful, humane and effective ABC approach, which safeguards public health while honouring the constitutional values of compassion and coexistence — a stand the Supreme Court has consistently upheld since 2015.”
Well, John Abraham is not alone in speaking out. Celebrities like Varun Dhawan, Sanya Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor have also voiced their opposition to the Supreme Court order, calling it a “death sentence for all dogs.”
As per the court’s directions, civic authorities in Delhi-NCR, especially in Gurugram, Noida and Ghaziabad, have been asked to set up shelters with a capacity for 5,000 stray dogs. These shelters must have vaccination and sterilisation facilities and the project must be completed within six to eight weeks.
