Supreme Court Backs Vijay Goel’s Bold ‘No Dogs on Streets’ Vision for Delhi!
Supreme Court orders Delhi to relocate stray dogs, backing Vijay Goel’s campaign.
Former Union Minister and ex-Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel has lauded the Supreme Court’s directive to remove stray dogs from Delhi’s streets and relocate them to dedicated shelters, calling it a validation of his long-standing ‘No Dogs on Streets’ campaign. The court’s order, issued today, mandates the Delhi government and civic bodies across the National Capital Region (NCR) to round up strays within eight weeks, addressing what the court described as an “extremely grim” situation.
Goel, who has spearheaded a movement through his non-profit organization, Lok Abhiyan, for the past two years, highlighted the severity of the stray dog menace, citing approximately 2,000 reported dog bites daily in Delhi alone, with numbers potentially reaching 5,000 across the NCR. “I am happy that the Supreme Court has endorsed our demand for a ‘no dogs on streets’ policy,” Goel told reporters, noting that the court’s call for a dedicated helpline for dog bite incidents aligns with his advocacy.
The Supreme Court, led by Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, ordered the establishment of shelters to house at least 5,000 stray dogs, with staff to sterilize, vaccinate, and care for the animals under CCTV monitoring. The court warned that any obstruction to the removal process would result in strict action, including contempt proceedings. Goel, who faced threats and criticism for his campaign, expressed hope that the court’s ruling would deter interference.
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Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta echoed the urgency, describing the stray dog issue as having reached “gigantic proportions.” She promised a “planned and systematic” policy to balance public safety with animal welfare, following a series of meetings with her administration. Development Minister Kapil Mishra, in a post on X, affirmed the government’s commitment to implementing the court’s order in a time-bound manner, emphasizing both public safety and the humane treatment of strays.
The court’s directive stems from a suo motu case initiated on July 28, triggered by multiple dog bite fatalities, including that of a six-year-old girl in Pooth Kalan. The Delhi government faces a six-week deadline to demonstrate progress, with Gupta assuring cooperation from civic bodies and the public to meet the court’s expectations.
Goel’s campaign, now bolstered by judicial support, underscores the pressing need to address the rising incidents of dog bites, particularly affecting women and children, and restore safety to Delhi’s neighborhoods.
