Rajasthan High Court Takes Suo Motu Cognizance Of Stray Dog Menace On Public Roads

The Rajasthan High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the stray dog menace on public roads and increasing dog bite incidents.

The Court took note of a news article which revealed that at least two incidents of stray dog bites in the last one week at various places in Rajasthan were recorded.

The Division Bench of Justice Kuldeep Mathur and Justice Ravi Chirania observed, "This Court is seriously concerned about safety and well being of the citizens, therefore, we cannot allow not only our city roads, State and National Highways unsafe on account of public menace created by stray animals, which includes dogs and cows but also sheep, buffaloes, goats and camels etc."

Ayush Gehlot, Associate to Additional Advocate General, appeared in the matter.

The Court stated that there are many unpublished incidents of the same kind and more severe in nature also and local newspapers have also published certain figures regarding dog bite, while the all-India figures for same is "alarming". It thus highlighted that the stray dogs and cows have created menace not only on the city roads but also on State & National Highways, which declares these roads as highly unsafe for the citizens and the incidents due to stray dogs, cows and other such animals have increased immensely.

Noting that in our Society, dogs and cows are the common pets and also they are the common stray animals on road and that too in big numbers due to their uncontrolled growth, the Court observed that not all pet owners are discharging their pious obligation of maintaining them properly and, therefore, they are found abandoned on the road, which causes menace in the society.

"This Court is seriously concerned about safety and well being of the citizens, therefore, we cannot allow not only our city roads, State and National Highways unsafe on account of public menace created by stray animals, which includes dogs and cows but also sheep, buffaloes, goats and camels etc", the Court observed.

Taking note of the Counsel's submission that the State Government has drafted the Rajasthan Road Safety Bill, 2022, that has various provisions to control the menace caused by stray animals not only on the road but also on the Highways, the Court stressed that the problem needs immediate attention of the responsible Officers and Authorities.

It accordingly issued Notices and listed the matter for August 11, 2025.

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