The Supreme Court of India has constituted a new bench to hear the case involving the eviction of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR. According to a report filed by LiveLaw, the new hearing would be conducted on Thursday – August 14.
Composition of the New Bench
The report also stated that the case will be heard by a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria.
This hearing will be separate from the 2-judge bench that issued the order for removing the Delhi stray dogs on Monday.
In its August 11 order, the SC has instructed authorities to gather stray dogs, beginning with 5,000 dogs in the next six to eight weeks.
The order also said that at no time should the dogs be let loose again in the streets.
“The stray dogs shall be captured, sterilized, dewormed and immunized as required by Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023,” says the detailed order uploaded on the SC website on Wednesday.
The SC decision to refer the case to a larger bench is after overwhelming public outcry and criticism after the initial SC ruling. Some politicians, celebrities, and animal rights groups have opposed the SC ruling.
Gandhi Family Voices Concern
Four Gandhi family members – Rahul Gandhi, his sibling Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, their cousin Varun Gandhi and his mother Maneka Gandhi – have been vocal about their worry regarding the Supreme Court’s order to clear stray canines from the streets of Delhi-NCR.
Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in an X post called the wholesale removal “cruel.”
“Blanket removals are cruel, shortsighted and strip us of compassion.. These voiceless souls are not ‘problems’ to be erased. Shelters, sterilisation, vaccination and community care can keep streets safe without cruelty… We can ensure public safety and animal welfare go hand in hand,” wrote Gandhi.
Soon after issuing the order, various dog lovers, animal rights activists and other demonstrators were arrested close to India Gate in protest against the order. The Supreme Court order was also referred to as “impractical, illogical, and illegal” by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India.
