Supreme Court warns states of heavy compensation for stray dog bites, fixes liability on feeders

Hearing the stray dog menace case, the Supreme Court criticises the Centre and states for failure to enforce rules and signals strict action, including compensation for victims and accountability for dog feeders.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a strong warning to the Union government and all state governments while hearing a case related to stray dog attacks, making it clear that heavy compensation may be imposed for every dog bite and death caused due to administrative failure.

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria observed that governments have failed to put proper systems in place to deal with the growing stray dog problem. The court said that for each dog bite and every fatality, the concerned government could be directed to pay substantial compensation to victims or their families.

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The bench also made a significant observation on the role of dog feeders, stating that they should be held liable for attacks. Questioning why aggressive dogs are allowed to roam freely, the judges remarked that if people wish to feed dogs, they should take responsibility for them. The court underlined that the impact of a dog bite is lifelong, affecting victims physically and mentally.

Criticising the administration, the Supreme Court said state governments have “failed miserably” in implementing the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules. The judges noted that the issue has persisted for decades, pointing out that even Parliament has been examining the matter since the 1950s, yet no effective solution has been enforced.

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Holding both levels of government accountable, the bench said the problem has multiplied many times due to inaction by the Centre and the states. The court warned that it would hold governments responsible for every man, woman and child who has lost their life due to dog attacks, and that strict financial penalties could follow.