SC warns Maneka Gandhi over stray dogs remarks; contempt not initiated
SC warns Maneka Gandhi over stray dogs remarks; contempt not initiated
The Supreme Court admonished Maneka Gandhi for comments on stray dog orders, signaling possible contempt but opting for magnanimity while probing policy and budget questions.
The Supreme Court bench in Delhi minced no words about Maneka Gandhi’s remarks on its stray-dogs orders, saying she had made 'all kinds of comments' that could amount to contempt. While it stopped short of initiating proceedings, the judges pointed to the court’s own magnanimity and pressed for accountability, including questions about what budgetary support she had helped secure for dog-management efforts.
Justice Mehta asked Gandhi’s lawyer what budget allocations had effectively come to her anti-stray-dog agenda, hinting that policy questions lie at the core of the controversy. The exchange recalled the court’s January 13 directive that states pay heavy compensation for dogbite incidents and hold dog feeders responsible, a framing Gandhi had criticised as coercive.
Alongside the remarks, the bench flagged concerns about the slow implementation of norms for stray animals for the last five years, emphasizing that meaningful action requires more than raised voices. Gandhi, who heads People for Animals, has repeatedly argued against punitive approaches and pressed for humane, rights-based solutions rather than blanket crackdowns.
With the hearing ongoing, observers say the case underscores the fraught balance between public safety, animal welfare, and judicial rhetoric. Gandhi has not yet responded to the court’s comments, while supporters insist the debate should inform better policies rather than personal confrontations.
