Ritika Sajdeh, wife of Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma, has voiced strong opposition to the Supreme Court’s recent order directing civic bodies across Delhi-NCR to capture all stray dogs and relocate them to shelters. In an Instagram story, Sajdeh described the court’s directive as a harsh measure. She wrote, “They call it a menace. We call it a heartbeat. 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 greet every morning. But these are not 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 the children return from school. They are the warmth in a cold, uncaring city. Yes, there are problems- bites, safety concerns- but caging an entire community of animals is not a solution, it’s an erasure. The real fix? Large-scale sterilization programs, regular vaccination drives, community feeding zones, and adoption campaigns Not punishment. Not imprisonment. A society that can’t protect its voiceless is a society losing its soul. Today it’s the dogs. Tomorrow, who will it be? Raise your voice. Because they don’t have one,” it further read.
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The Supreme Court’s order came a day after the top court ruled that all stray dogs in Delhi and adjoining regions must be shifted from residential areas to shelters. The move follows rising cases of dog bites leading to deaths from rabies. The court directed that shelters must have professionals to handle dogs, carry out sterilisation and immunisation, and prevent dogs from roaming free. It also warned that any organisation blocking the order would face strict action.
The bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan declined to consider petitions against the order. The court said the action is in the public interest and that no sentiments should interfere. “We are not doing this for us. It is for the public interest. So, no sentiments of any nature should be involved. Action should be taken at the earliest. Pick up dogs from all localities and shift them to shelters. For the time being, forget the rules,” the bench said.
Following the verdict, the Delhi government ordered civic authorities in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram to immediately build dog shelters, relocate stray dogs, and provide updates to the court.
(With inputs from agencies)
