The Supreme Court’s recent order mandating the relocation of all stray dogs in the Delhi-NCR region to designated shelters has sparked a wave of criticism, particularly from members of the entertainment industry and animal welfare advocates.
Veteran actress Zeenat Aman voiced her concern on Instagram, calling the decision disheartening and urging for a more humane, logical, and science-backed solution. Echoing similar sentiments, Sonakshi Sinha remarked that society is revealing its lack of compassion, adding, “Every day is a disappointment.”
Actors Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan also reacted to the ruling by resharing a post on Instagram that described the verdict as a “death sentence for all dogs.”
Rupali Ganguly highlighted the cultural and spiritual ties between humans and street dogs, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that dogs are often seen as protectors in Indian traditions. She cautioned against removing them from their natural habitat, arguing that relocating them to shelters is more of an exile than an act of kindness. “Stray dogs aren’t outsiders; they’re part of our faith, our culture, our safety,” she wrote.
Actress Shriya Pilgaonkar stressed the importance of balancing compassion with practical solutions. While acknowledging public safety concerns, she noted that India’s animal shelters are already overcrowded and under-resourced. She advocated instead for community-based sterilisation, vaccination, and feeding programs that promote safe coexistence.
Shalini Pandey, known for Arjun Reddy and Maharaj, added that dogs are not strays by choice, but rather victims of human neglect. She called for meaningful actions like sterilisation and awareness campaigns instead of blanket removal policies.
According to the Supreme Court’s directive, authorities must capture and move all stray dogs in the Delhi-NCR area to assigned shelters and ensure they do not escape from these facilities.
