Janhvi Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Raveena Tandon condemn SC order on stray dogs; John Abraham writes open letter to CJI: ‘I request a review of this judgment’

It futher read, “As someone who has worked in animal protection for decades, I wish to respectfully point out that this directive directly conflicts with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, formerly the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001 and the Supreme Court’s own judgements on the issue which have consistently upheld a methodical sterilisation programme, as recommended by World Health Organisation in 1990, as the only effective and scientific solution to address the community dog population. The ABC Rules prohibit the displacement of dogs, instead mandating their sterilisation, vaccination, and return to the very areas they inhabit.”

Highlighting the data of stray dogs, John stated, “Where the ABC programme is implemented earnestly, it works. Jaipur has sterilised more than 70% of its dogs; Lucknow, 84%. Delhi can achieve the same. During sterilisation, dogs are vaccinated against rabies, and sterilisation results in calmer animals, fewer fights and bites, as they have no puppies to protect. Because community dogs are territorial, they also deter unsterilised, unvaccinated dogs from entering their areas.”

ALSO READ | Don’t blame the street dogs. It is only an easy way out

“By contrast, displacement simply fails. Delhi has an estimated 10 lakh dogs. It is neither practical nor humane to shelter or relocate them all, and removal only opens the door for unfamiliar, unsterilised, and unvaccinated dogs to move in—leading to greater competition, territorial disputes, and public health risks. I respectfully request a review and modification of this judgment in favour of the lawful, humane, and effective ABC approach, which safeguards public health while honouring the constitutional values of compassion and coexistence, a stand the Supreme Court has consistently upheld since 2015,” the letter concluded.

Actors Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan also took to their Instagram stories, denouncing the top court’s order. Janhvi note read, “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 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.”

Janhvi Kapoor’s Instagram Story

“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 sterilisation 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 concluded.

Actor Bhumi Pednekar and actor-comedian Vir Das also reacted to the ruling. Bhumi shared a Mahatma Gandhi post on her Instagram story, which read, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” In another post, she shared a photo of a stray dog, noting, “We don’t deserve them.”

ALSO READ | Varun Dhawan on his appreciation for wife Natasha, fatherhood, and the emotional toll of ‘dad guilt’: ‘…mujhe khaa jaati hai andar se’

Vir too posted a powerful note on Instagram, “If you are a resident of Delhi. Can I persuade you to adopt an indie off the streets, more than one? They are extremely healthy, low maintenance, and will provide you with more love, affection and gratitude than you could ever imagine. Am also asking you to wholeheartedly and generously. Support your nearest animal welfare NGO. I plan on doing so, and I hope you will too. As appeals are filed in court and processes take their time, it’s important for our humanity to kick in immediately. Please do your part, big or small, it all adds up.”

Singer Chinmayi Sripaada, filmmaker Siddharth Anand, and actor Adivi Sesh also shared their concerns on social media. Raveena Tandon, who is known for her love for dogs, spoke to HT City and urged for sterilisation and vaccination of dogs instead. “I feel where the population of indies have increased, it is honestly not these poor dogs to be blamed. It means the vaccination and sterilisation drives aren’t done by local bodies,” she said.

“If that was a success, or the money and infrastructure was set properly, I don’t think we would have reached this point. Local bodies are responsible for the strays in their communities and sterilisation is the need of the hour,” the actor added.

From the homepage

‘Voice of people is being suppressed’: AAP’s Sanjay Singh, others ‘detained’ in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda

Key central committee man among 10 Naxals gunned down in Chhattisgarh

Rifle recovered, suspect ‘fired from rooftop’: Trump ally Charlie Kirk shot dead | Top updates