John Abraham Appeals to Chief Justice on Stray Dog Relocation Ruling
Actor's Plea Against Supreme Court's Decision
On Tuesday, Bollywood star John Abraham reached out to the Chief Justice of India, urging a reconsideration of the Supreme Court's recent ruling concerning stray dogs. The 52-year-old actor expressed his concerns in a passionate letter, asking Justice BR Gavai to rethink the directive that mandates the relocation of Delhi's stray dogs to shelters and remote areas.
Abraham criticized the court's decision as 'impractical' and 'inhumane', emphasizing that these dogs are not merely strays but community pets cherished by many residents. He stated, 'I trust you will recognize that these dogs are not 'strays' but community members—valued and loved by many, having coexisted with humans in Delhi for generations.'
He pointed out that the ruling contradicts the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Dog Rules 2023, which require the sterilization, vaccination, and return of stray dogs to their original environments. 'With around 1 million community dogs in Delhi, it is neither feasible nor humane to relocate them all,' he argued.
Earlier this year, John was appointed as PETA India's first honorary director. In his letter, he called for a review based on 'compassion, scientific solutions, and adherence to Indian law' to protect animal welfare.
He further elaborated, 'Displacement is ineffective. With an estimated 1 million dogs in Delhi, relocating them is impractical and inhumane. Such actions could lead to the influx of unsterilized and unvaccinated dogs, resulting in increased competition, territorial conflicts, and public health hazards. I respectfully urge a reassessment of this ruling in favor of the lawful, humane, and effective ABC approach, which promotes public health while upholding the constitutional principles of compassion and coexistence, a stance the Supreme Court has supported since 2015.'
Supreme Court's Directive on Stray Dogs
In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court ordered on Monday that all stray dogs in the Delhi-NCR region be removed from public streets and placed in designated shelters to address the rising incidents of dog attacks, particularly on children. The bench, addressing the issue independently, stated that this action was taken 'for the public good' and mandated that the shelters be equipped with CCTV cameras to ensure that the dogs are not released back onto the streets. Authorities have been instructed to commence the collection of stray dogs from all areas, especially those deemed vulnerable.