GBA faces backlash over stray dogs relocation, activists warns of contempt of court

Bengaluru

Animal welfare and rights activists and NGOs on Monday raised serious concerns over the Greater Bengaluru Authority’s (GBA) approach to implementing the Supreme Court’s order on street dogs, warning that taxpayer funds may be misused and the civic authorities could face contempt of court. 

A press conference was held at the Bangalore Press Club, where activists urged residents to question the “gross misuse” of public resources.

The GBA has reportedly been removing street dogs across the city and placing them in temporary shelters, a move described by experts as a violation of the Supreme Court order and the Animal Welfare Board of India’s Standard Operating Procedures (AWBI SOP). So far, 184 dogs have been picked up without adherence to proper protocols, activists alleged. 

“The Supreme Court order mandates designated permanent shelters with specific dimensions as outlined in the AWBI SOP. The temporary shelters set up by GBA, which are essentially ABC (Animal Birth Control) centres, do not comply,” said Sathwik Putta, lawyer with South Bengaluru Cares.

Vikash Bafna, Founder of Friend for Animal Trust, said after a meeting with Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh and Commissioner Vikas Suralkar, that dogs were being sent to these temporary shelters regardless of procedure. “We urge the authorities not to take hasty decisions that may amount to contempt of the Supreme Court,” he said.

Experts highlighted that humane population control through ABC programs remains poorly implemented. Actor and Praana Foundation Founder Samyukta Hornad criticised the move, saying, “The SC order is illogical, and GBA’s implementation is worse. Without proper kennels, these temporary shelters cannot ensure effective ABC programs, leaving dogs to suffer.”

Animal rights lawyer Alwyn Sebastian added, “the proper sequence—identification, fencing, vaccination, neutering, and only then capturing dogs—is being ignored. This is state-sponsored cruelty and contradicts the SC order.”

Activists also raised financial concerns, with Mallika Menon of CARE stating that operations for 100 dogs could cost approximately ₹3.5 lakh per month, covering food, staff, and veterinary care, making hasty implementation impractical.

Further, Manjari Chaitanya of South Bengaluru Cares warned that relocating dogs to rural areas where ABC programs are not practiced could increase rabies risks, impacting both human and animal populations.