‘Will Look Into It’ CJI BR Gavai On Stray Dog Issue Amid Fury Over Supreme Court’s Mass Relocation Order

Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai on Wednesday said he would “look into” the contentious issue of stray dogs, a remark that comes amid a fierce public backlash against a recent Supreme Court order mandating the mass removal of all strays from the streets of Delhi-NCR. The CJI’s brief comment came when a separate, older petition on the matter was mentioned before his court, leaving it unclear whether the top court might reconsider its sweeping directive that has been slammed by animal welfare activists as “inhumane.”

The moment occurred when a 2024 petition, which claimed civic authorities were failing to conduct regular sterilization of stray dogs, was brought before the Chief Justice’s bench. Responding to the plea, CJI Gavai noted that an order had already been passed on the issue, referring to the controversial judgment delivered just two days prior. While he stated he would “look into it,” the court has not yet listed the matter for a fresh hearing.

The controversy stems from a ruling on Monday by a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, which described the stray dog menace in the capital region as “grim” and ordered immediate and drastic action. The court directed civic bodies to “round up all the stray dogs, whether sterilised or not,” within eight weeks and place them in shelters, declaring that “society should be free from stray dogs.”

That order has ignited a firestorm of criticism from animal lovers and welfare organizations. They argue the ruling directly contravenes the existing Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, which mandate that sterilized and vaccinated dogs must be released back into their original territories and cannot be permanently relocated. The judgment has sparked a massive debate on social media and led to street protests, with a group of around 40 to 50 activists being detained in Delhi on Tuesday while protesting near India Gate against the court’s decision.