Raj HC takes suo motu cognizance of stray animal menace on public roads

Rajasthan High Court: The Court took suo motu cognizance and initiated a Public Interest Litigation (‘PIL’) concerning the stray animal menace specifically dogs and cows, which endanger public safety on city roads and highways. The Division-Bench of Kuldeep Mathur and Ravi Chirania, JJ.noting significant increase in dog bite incidents and accidents caused by stray animals, issued a set of directions to various governmental and municipal bodies to address the problem immediately. The Court directed the Municipal bodies to undertake a special drive to remove stray dogs and other animals from city roads while ensuring that minimum physical harm is caused to them. It also directed the National and State Highways Authorities to conduct regular patrolling to remove stray animals from highways to ensure free vehicular movement.

The Court noted that the news reports published in Rajasthan Patrika, Jodhpur Edition, on 30-07-2025, detailed at least two incidents of stray dog bites that occurred within the last week. Other local Hindi newspapers, Dainik Bhaskar and Dainik Navjyoti, have also consistently reported similar incidents. A report from the Press Information Bureau, based on information provided by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy to the Lok Sabha, revealed alarming figures for dog bite cases in India. In addition to dog bites, the Court noted that stray dogs, cows, and other animals like sheep, buffaloes, goats, and camels have created a menace on city roads, State, and National Highways, making them highly unsafe for the citizens.

The Court noted that all counsel involved in the matter agreed that specific directions were needed until the next date of hearing. The Court issued the following directions:

1. The Municipal bodies are to undertake a special drive to remove stray dogs and other animals from city roads, while ensuring that minimum physical harm is caused to them.
2. The National Highways Authority and the State Highways Authority are required to conduct regular patrolling on highways to remove stray animals and ensure free vehicular movement.
3. The AAG was directed to file a detailed report on the condition and maintenance of dog shelters and cattle ponds/Gaushalas run by the Municipal Corporations. The report should also specify the number of staff and doctors available for animal care and if provisions have been made to keep feline animals separate from other animals.
4. The Municipal Corporations are expected to notify a telephone/mobile number or email ID for citizens to lodge complaints regarding stray animals.
5. If individuals or groups obstruct municipal employees from removing stray animals, the employees are free to take appropriate action, including lodging FIRs for obstructing public servants.
6. The Court also expressed its expectation that the general public who wish to feed or care for animals out of sentiment or religious belief should do so at dog shelters and cattle ponds/Gaushalas maintained by municipalities or private organizations.

7. The Municipal Corporation, Jodhpur, was specifically directed to take immediate and priority steps to remove stray animals from the premises of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences and the District Court, Jodhpur.

The Court scheduled the next hearing for 8-8-2025.

[Suo Motu v. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 14726/2025, decided on 11-08-2025]

Advocates who appeared in this case:

For the Petitioners: DR. Sachin Acharya, SR. Advocate with Ms. Priyanka Borana, Heli Pathak (Amicus Curiae)

For the Respondents: Rajesh Panwar, Sr. Advocate-Cum-Aag with Monal Chugh, BP Bohra, SR. CGC with Vaibhav Bhansali