Bengaluru: The Karnataka government informed the High Court on Wednesday that a meeting of stakeholders, convened by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Urban Development Department, addressed the issue of compensating families with Rs five lakh in case of fatalities due to dog bites and Rs 5,000 for injuries. The HC directed another meeting within four weeks to formulate a comprehensive plan.
In response to a public interest litigation (PIL) related to the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, the HC instructed the government to widely publicize guidelines on feeding street animals and conflict resolution.
The division bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit emphasized the importance of public awareness, suggesting that the state use official websites, circulate pamphlets, make announcements on TV, and utilize cinema halls to disseminate information. The court considered these as recommendations, allowing the government flexibility in choosing suitable communication channels.
The PIL, initiated by advocate Ramesh Naik L from Tumakuru, prompted the HC to seek updates on measures addressing stray dog issues and the implementation of guidelines for those feeding stray dogs. The court highlighted concerns about feeding animals near places like ‘Vidhana Soudha’ and Cubbon Park, posing risks to school children.
The government advocate reported that a meeting with stakeholders took place on October 6, following the court’s direction on October 5. The HC granted the state an additional four weeks to conduct another meeting and adjourned the case for six weeks.
The Animal Welfare Board of India’s guidelines on Pet and Street/Stray Dogs, issued in 2015, were the basis for discussions during the hearings in October. The court stressed the need for a citizen’s duty to feed street dogs responsibly, considering the instances of dog bites and directed the state to respond with appropriate remedial measures.
