Rajasthan Tightens Leash On Stray Dogs, Other Animals As HC Orders Removal From Streets With 'Minimal Harm'

The Rajasthan High Court on Monday directed municipal bodies across the state to remove stray dogs and other animals from city roads, ensuring minimal physical harm during the process. The directive follows a recent Supreme Court order mandating the removal of stray dogs from Delhi-NCR areas, including Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad, after repeated dog bite incidents, some resulting in fatalities.

The Rajasthan High Court issued its order in a suo motu petition, taking cognizance of the increasing threat posed by stray animals and their role in fatal accidents and attacks.

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The court further warned that any interference with the removal process would lead to legal consequences. Municipal officials and staff have been empowered to take action, including filing FIRs against individuals obstructing their duties.

A division bench of Justice Kuldeep Mathur and Justice Ravi Chirania, while issuing a slew of directions, said, "The Municipal bodies shall also undertake a special drive to remove stray dogs and other animals from city roads while ensuring that minimum physical harm is caused to them. If an individual or a group of persons obstruct the employees of Municipalities from discharging their duties in removing the stray animals from the roads/colonies/public paths, then Municipal Officials/employees will be free to take appropriate action against them under the relevant Municipal Laws including lodging of the FIRs for obstructing public servants from performing their duties."

The Court has directed the Jodhpur Municipal Corporation to take immediate steps to remove stray animals from the premises of AIIMS Jodhpur and the District Court, both of which experience significant public footfall.

Additionally, the National Highways Authority and the State Highways Authority have been instructed to conduct regular patrols on highways to ensure smooth vehicular movement.

The Court further directed the Municipal Corporation to publish contact numbers or email addresses for the public to report issues related to stray animals.

Citizens who wish to feed stray animals have been advised to do so only at designated shelter homes or cattle ponds.

"We expect from the general public that if due to their sentiments or religious believes or for love towards the animals, they want to feed them or offer food or take care of them, then they shall perform such activities at dog shelters and cattle ponds/ Gaushalas maintained by the Municipalities or private individual/organisation," the court said.

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The Court has directed the Additional Advocate General (AAG) to submit a detailed report on the condition and maintenance of dog shelters and cattle ponds. The matter is scheduled to be heard next on September 8.