Rajasthan HC Orders Removal of Stray Animals
Following a similar Supreme Court directive for Delhi-NCR, the High Court has ordered a special drive to clear city roads of stray animals, with a warning of legal action against those who obstruct the effort.
- The Rajasthan High Court has directed municipal bodies to remove stray dogs and other animals from city roads in a suo motu plea concerning public safety and dog bite incidents.
- The court’s order follows a similar directive from the Supreme Court, which ordered all stray dogs to be removed from Delhi-NCR localities.
- A division bench of Justices Kuldeep Mathur and Ravi Chirania clarified that officials can file FIRs against anyone who obstructs the special drive, giving them a free hand to act.
GG News Bureau
Jodhpur, 12th Aug: The Rajasthan High Court has issued a directive for the immediate removal of stray dogs and other animals from city roads. The order was passed in a suo motu plea after the court took serious note of the rising number of dog bite incidents and the menace of stray animals causing accidents and deaths across the state. This move comes just a day after a similar order by the Supreme Court for the Delhi-NCR region.
A division bench of Justice Kuldeep Mathur and Justice Ravi Chirania instructed municipal bodies to undertake a special drive to clear the roads, emphasizing that while action must be swift, minimum physical harm should be caused to the animals. The court also made it clear that municipal officials and employees have been given a free hand to act against anyone who obstructs their work. The order specifies that officials can lodge First Information Reports (FIRs) against individuals or groups who hinder public servants from performing their duties.
The court has also provided clear instructions for citizens who wish to feed stray animals. It stated that due to sentiments or love for animals, people should perform such activities only at designated shelters or cattle ponds maintained by municipalities or private organizations, rather than on public roads.
Specific to Jodhpur, the court has demanded immediate action from the Jodhpur Municipal Corporation to remove stray animals from high-footfall areas such as the premises of AIIMS and the district court. The National and State Highways authorities were also directed to regularly patrol highways to ensure free vehicular movement. The Additional Advocate General has been asked to submit a detailed report on the condition and maintenance of the animal shelters by the next hearing on September 8.
