Remove stray animals from public places & highways: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has directed state governments and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to remove stray animals, including cattle, from highways and expressways and to immediately provide shelters for their rehabilitation. It has also ordered that educational and health institutions be fenced to keep stray dogs away.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath reaffirmed the directions issued by the Rajasthan HC in August for removal of stray animals from roads. On Friday, the SC extended the high court's order to all states and Union Territories. The bench said it has instructed that the directions issued by the Rajasthan HC vide its August order are "reaffirmed to the extent that public works department, municipal authorities, road and transport authorities to remove cattle from highways and expressways and immediately rehabilitate them in shelters". The top court said "each authority shall constitute a dedicated highway patrol team to report stray cattle on highways and other expressways. All national highways shall have helpline numbers to report presence of stray animals. Chief secretaries of all states shall ensure strict enforcement of these directions".

The SC also directed that government-run as well as private educational and health institutions should be fenced to tackle the menace of stray dogs. Such institutions requiring fencing should be identified by the states within two weeks, the bench ordered.