Supreme Court judge Justice Vikram Nath has said that the high-profile stray dog case has unexpectedly made him famous, not just in India, but also abroad. Known for his light-hearted remarks, he shared that he has even been told that “apart from dog lovers, dogs themselves are giving blessings.”
Speaking at a conference on human-wildlife conflict in Thiruvananthapuram, Justice Nath thanked the Chief Justice of India, BR Gavai, for assigning him the matter. He said that while he was earlier known only within the legal community, the stray dog hearings had made him widely recognised in civil society across the world.
“I recently attended an international summit where lawyers from other countries asked me about the stray dog issue. I felt elated that people outside India also knew me,” he said.
The case gained massive attention after an earlier Supreme Court order on August 11 directed authorities in the Delhi NCR region to relocate all stray dogs to shelters and not release them back. The decision faced a strong backlash from animal rights groups and citizens.
Later, on August 22, a special three-judge bench led by Justice Nath modified the ruling. The new order allowed stray dogs to be sterilised, vaccinated, and then returned to the same locations from where they were picked up, except in cases where the animals were rabid or dangerously aggressive.
Justice Nath said the recognition he has received over the case has been unusual but heartwarming. “For years, I was only known for my small contributions in the legal field. But thanks to this matter, I am being recognised far beyond that,” he remarked with a smile.
The case, which began after reports of a rise in dog bite incidents in Delhi, continues to spark debate over how to strike a balance between public safety and animal welfare. But for Justice Nath, it has already left a lasting mark – one that, he says, has brought him blessings from both people and pets.