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On Monday, August 11, the Supreme Court of India passed a directive which stated the national capital to get rid of stray dogs. As per the Supreme Court’s order which was directed towards the civic bodies across Delhi-NCR, stated that they should immediately capture all stray dogs and relocate them to shelters as they pose a threat over public safety.
The decision by the Supreme Court hasn’t gone down well among the general masses, who even went on to call it an inhumane act. While there have been protests regarding the same at the iconic India Gate in New Delhi, several others also also voiced their opinions, taking to social media to be the voice of the voiceless.
Ritika Sajdeh stands in support of Supreme Court’s order on stray dogs
Rohit Sharma’s wife, Ritika Sajdeh, who has often stood up in matters like these, took to Instagram to share the viral message around the stray dog order. “The call it a menace. We call it a heartbeat” the message began. “Today, the Supreme Court says - take every stray dog off the streets of Delhi-NCR and lock them away. No sunlight. No freedom. No familiar faces they greet every morning. But these aren’t just “stray dogs.” They are the ones who wait outside your tea stall for a biscuit. They are the silent night guards for shopkeepers. They are the tails wagging when children return from school. They are the warmth in a cold, uncaring city,” it further read.
While the message stated agreed that there are a few problems like bites, safety concerning around it, but voiced that caging an entire community won’t solve it. “The real fix? Large-scale sterlization programs, regular vaccination drives, community feeding zones, and adoption campaigns. Not punishment. Not imprisonment,” the message further read.
As per the Court’s orders which was benched by Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, contempt proceedings will be initiated against individuals or organisation that attempts to obstruct the authorities from carry out capture drives. "If any individual or organisation comes in the way of picking stray dogs or rounding them up, we will proceed to take action against any such resistance," said Justice Pardiwala.
