Animal welfare activists in Jaipur are gearing up to participate in a major nationwide demonstration scheduled for January 4, the last Sunday before the Supreme Court revisits the contentious issue of stray dog management. The local protest will be held at the city's historic Albert Hall, organizers confirmed.
Protesting a Sweeping Court Order
The pan-India rally is a direct response to a Supreme Court directive issued on November 7. The order instructed all states and Union Territories to remove stray dogs from the premises of key public spaces, including educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands, depots, and railway stations. The court mandated that the animals be relocated to designated shelters after undergoing due sterilization and vaccination as per the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, framed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
This order has sparked widespread outrage among animal rights groups across the country. Many activists have labeled it as a "sweeping order passed without hearing all parties," creating a furore in the community. Santana Khurana, a Jaipur-based animal activist, stated, "The next date for the Supreme Court hearing is Jan 7. Animal activists across the country are holding a pan-India rally on Jan 4. We have plans to hold the rally at the Albert Hall."
Rally Plans and Nationwide Coordination
The organizers in Jaipur have stated they will seek formal permission from the Jaipur police commissionerate for the January 4 gathering. Beyond the physical demonstration, the protest aims to build a consolidated voice of dissent. An organizer revealed that part of their plan involves collecting signatures from like-minded citizens. These signatures are intended to be compiled with petitions from other cities and later submitted to the Supreme Court, showcasing the scale of opposition to the relocation directive.
"We will protest against the order. In addition, we have plans to collect signatures of like-minded people that can later be submitted to the court along with petitions from other cities across the country," the organizer stated. This highlights a coordinated national effort to appeal the court's decision before the crucial January 7 hearing.
The Core of the Controversy
At the heart of the dispute is the interpretation and implementation of the Animal Birth Control program. Activists argue that the court's order for large-scale relocation undermines the ABC program's principle of stabilizing dog populations through sterilization and vaccination in their original territories. They contend that relocation is often impractical, inhumane, and can exacerbate territorial conflicts and public safety issues in new areas.
The upcoming days are critical for animal welfare policy in India. The January 4 rallies across the nation, including the one in Jaipur, are set to be a significant show of public sentiment just before the matter returns to the country's highest judicial forum for further deliberation.
