Dogs are Delhiites: John Abraham Urges CJI to Reconsider Stray Dog Removal Order

New Delhi Chronicle Staff Reporter

Mumbai:Actor John Abraham has written to Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, calling the Supreme Court’s recent directive to remove stray dogs from Delhi “impractical” and “inhumane.”

In his letter, Abraham argued that the animals are “not strays but community dogs—respected, loved, and very much Delhiites in their own right.” He cited World Health Organisation guidelines and the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Dog Rules, 2023, which mandate sterilisation, vaccination, and return of community dogs to their original locations.

The actor also warned of the “vacuum effect,” where displacing the city’s estimated 19 lakh dogs could worsen public health issues. He urged for “compassion, science-based solutions, and compliance with Indian law.”

On August 11, the Supreme Court ordered Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad authorities to remove strays to shelters and ensure they are not returned. The decision has drawn sharp reactions from the film industry, with Janhvi Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Vir Das, Adivi Sesh, and Siddharth Anand among those voicing opposition.