New Delhi: Animal rights activist and former Union minister Maneka Gandhi on Thursday labeled the Supreme Court’s directive on the removal of stray animals to shelter homes as “impractical,” emphasizing that compassion should be the guiding principle in India’s treatment of animals. The Supreme Court recently acknowledged the “alarming rise” in dog bite incidents in places such as educational institutions, hospitals, bus terminals, and railway stations, directing authorities to transfer these animals to designated shelters. Additionally, the court mandated that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and other bodies ensure the removal of stray animals and livestock from highways and expressways.
“The Supreme Court says remove the dog, remove the cat, remove the monkey, put it in a shelter, sterilize it, but no one can actually do this…it is impractical,” Gandhi stated while responding to queries at an event in New Delhi. She further criticized the lack of coordination among civic authorities and insisted that India’s approach to animals should be based on compassion rather than control. Gandhi called for both authorities and citizens to emphasize community responsibility and humane treatment. At the launch of CineKind, a new initiative by the Film Federation of India (FFI) in partnership with her organization, People for Animals (PFA), she highlighted the importance of honoring kindness and humane themes in cinema.
The initiative aims to motivate filmmakers to depict empathy towards animals and nature as a strength. “India’s culture is largely shaped by films, and it is crucial to promote compassion as a sign of strength,” she remarked. “Those who are compassionate are strong; only the weak are cruel.” Gandhi, a long-time advocate for animal welfare laws, recalled the suffering of animals used in films due to a lack of regulations. FFI president Firdausul Hasan noted that films can shape public perceptions and advance humane values.
