Veteran actor Sharmila Tagore has become the latest public person to face his concern over the controversial verdict of the Supreme Court of removing stray dogs from public sectors in the Delhi-NCR region. NCP national spokesperson Anish Gavande posted a video on X, in which Tagore called for a more thoughtful and kind viewing on the issue.

Tagore, who owns a house in Delhi, said, “We are currently struggling with the crisis of conscience. The recent decision feels that a door has been closed on the weakest and soundless members of our society. I expected that there would be a lie in the protection of life and dignity.”

Take a look at the video:

(Video Credit: Instagram/Anishgavande)

He said, “What was needed was a more measured and a response to systemic deficiencies, which is now being described as a ‘dog’s danger’. In silence those who cannot speak for ourselves, we risk something necessary within ourselves.”

Asked the authorities to reconsider their attitude, Tagore urged, “This dependence on control over compassion has caused a lot of damage.

Amid the growing public backlash, Chief Justice Bra Gavai agreed to see the court’s verdict again on 13 August.

Actor Randeep Hooda welcomed this development, writing on social media, “Hearing that the Honorable Chief Justice has agreed to review the ruling about stray dogs in NCR. Any law, especially any law involving living beings, should be human above all. The infrastructure and sensitivity is significant for implementation.”

The original decision released on 11 August directed the removal of stray dogs from the Delhi-NCR region and their transfer to nominated shelters, which led to a sharp increase in dog attacks and deadly incompatibility related to rabies.

Many Bollywood celebrities including John Abraham, Janhvi Kapoor, Varun Dhawan and Raveena Tandon have strongly criticized.

In a letter addressed to Chief Justice Gawai, John Abraham wrote, “It is widely stated that the Division Bench, which includes Honorable Justice JB Pardiwala and Honorable Justice R. Mahadevan, ordered all stray dogs to be removed from public places in Delhi to shelters or remote places.”

“But these are not ‘stress’, they are community dogs who are nurtured and respected by many. They are a part of Delhi, who lived with us for generations, as any human inhabitants.”

Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan also expressed their concern. His post read, “They call it a threat. We call it a heartbeat. Supreme Court says, remove every stray dog from Delhi-NCR streets and limit them. No sunshine. No freedom. No familiar face is not to greet each day.”

According to the court’s directive of August 11, the Delhi-NCR has been instructed to set up shelters with a capacity of 5,000-dogs, with vaccination and sterilization facilities within six to eight weeks in Delhi-NCR. CCTV monitoring is also to be applied, as well as with a dedicated helpline to report dog bites.