Rajasthan HC orders civic bodies to clear stray dogs from streets, warns of FIRs for obstruction

Stray dog menace

The Rajasthan High Court on Monday issued a directive to municipal bodies across the state, instructing them to remove stray dogs and other animals from city roads while ensuring that the process causes minimal physical harm to the animals, Live Law reported.

The order came during a suo moto hearing in which the court had earlier taken cognisance of the rising incidents of dog bites and the increasing menace of stray animals on public roads and highways, which have led to multiple fatalities. The bench emphasised that if any person or group obstructs municipal officials in the removal process, the authorities are empowered to take strict action, including lodging FIRs under relevant municipal laws for obstructing public servants from performing their duties.

This ruling coincided with a similar development in the Supreme Court, which on the same day directed authorities in Delhi to immediately begin picking up stray dogs from all localities and shift them to shelter homes. The Supreme Court’s order also extended to Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad.

The Rajasthan High Court bench, comprising Justice Kuldeep Mathur and Justice Ravi Chirania, laid down detailed instructions, calling for special drives to clear city roads of stray animals and for municipal bodies to establish clear complaint channels through telephone, mobile numbers, or email for residents to report stray-related concerns.

"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 said.

"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/organization," the court added.

Furthermore, the court directed the National Highways Authority and the State Highways Authority to conduct regular patrols to remove stray animals from highways, ensuring smooth and safe vehicular movement.

As per News 18, many activists argue that mass removal and relocation to shelter homes is an unscientific and ineffective solution, potentially leading to overcrowding in shelters and further distress for the animals.