Rajasthan High Court Takes Suo-Motu Cognizance Of Dog Bites, 'Menace' Of Stray Animals On Public Roads

The Rajasthan High Court has taken suo moto cognizance of the dog bite incidents in the state, and the menace of stray animals on public roads and highways causing multiple deaths in the state. 

The court took note of a news reports in various newspapers reporting incidents of dog-bites in Rajasthan, one of which referred to a report published by the Press Information Bureau, which is further based on information given by Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy in Lok Sabha, giving "alarming figures regarding dog bite cases in India".

The data for Rajasthan reflects that dog bite cases have increased from 88029 in 2022, 103533 in 2023, 140543 in 2024. In January 2025 the cases were at 15062. 

The division bench of Justice Kuldeep Mathur and Justice Ravi Chirania in its order said:

"This Court further finds that the stray dogs and cows have created menace not only on the city roads but also on State & National Highways, which declares these roads as highly unsafe for the citizens. The incidents due to stray dogs, cows and other such animals have increased immensely.The Government of Rajasthan in the year 2018 published a report containing data of ten years from 2009-2010 to 2018. The data specifically contains figures regarding the deaths caused in the State of Rajasthan due to stray animals, which are more than 185 in the year 2018. Though the accidents are increasing day by day due to stray animals but the consolidated data has not been reported by the State Government after the year 2018".

The court observed that in our Society, dogs and cows are the common pets and also they are the common stray animals on road and that too in big numbers due to their "uncontrolled growth".

It further said, "A large section of Society loves to have dogs either as a pet in their homes or feed them on regular basis because of personal attachment to these animals or under religious belief".

It said that there are two segments in the Society–one which loves to have them in their houses or in and around and the other due to fear or absence of attachment or even otherwise does not like them in the society. The court said the owner is responsible for the control and safety of their pet dog, while ensuring that it may not cause any harm to people.

Remarking that stray animals cannot make public roads unsafe the court observed:

"The pet lovers also go for a regular vaccination and other precautions for not only safety of the pet but also of the people around them. But not all of them having a dog as pet in their houses are discharging their pious obligation of maintaining them properly and, therefore, they are found abandoned on the road, which causes menace in the society.This Court is seriously concerned about safety and well being of the citizens, therefore, we cannot allow not only our city roads, State and National Highways unsafe on account of public menace created by stray animals, which includes dogs and cows but also sheep, buffaloes, goats and camels etc". 

It further stated that the data on accidents owing to stray animals, appearing in the reports prepared by the government authorities, was not correct and the instances were underreported to prevent the conduct of the local level state bodies being questioned.

It was submitted by the counsel appearing on behalf of the Municipalities that even though frequent drives were initiated by the Municipalities to deal with the problem of stray dogs and other animals, their owners and “so called animal-lovers” obstructed the officials to perform their duties. The officers and staff had also faced physical abuse and attacks. The counsel further said that he shall inform the court on the status of Rajasthan Road Safety Bill, 2022. 

After hearing all the contentions, the Court observed that the problem needed immediate attention of responsible officers and authorities, and hence suo moto cognizance was taken wherein the court directed registration of a PIL. 

Notices were issued to Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, NHAI, State government's Department of Urban Development & Housing, Municipal Corporations of Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, The Director of Local Bodies and Transport Department and the matter is listed on August 11. 

Title: Suo Moto

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