India's top court has ordered authorities to remove all stray dogs from the streets and place them in permanent shelters, sparking an uproar from animal-rights groups over the feasibility of a decision some say was made in anger.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, meanwhile, said the “stray dog menace” had assumed “gigantic proportions” and assured that her government would bring in a policy soon.

A two-judge bench of the top court had on August 11 directed authorities in Delhi-National Capital Region to start picking up stray dogs from all localities "at the earliest" and relocate the