SC News: Supreme Court Orders States, NHAI to Remove Stray Animals from Highways and Public Places

SC News: Supreme Court Orders States, NHAI to Remove Stray Animals from Highways and Public Places

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court of India has directed all state governments and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to remove stray animals, including cattle, from highways, expressways, and public spaces, and to ensure their immediate rehabilitation in shelters. The court also ordered that schools and hospitals be fenced to prevent the entry of stray dogs.

A three-judge bench led by Justice Vikram Nath issued the directive on Friday, reaffirming and extending the Rajasthan High Court’s August order on the removal of stray animals from roads to all States and Union Territories.

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The court emphasized that public works departments, municipal authorities, and transport bodies must act jointly to clear highways and expressways of stray animals and ensure they are shifted to designated shelters.

To support enforcement, the Supreme Court ordered that each authority must form a dedicated highway patrol team to monitor and report the presence of stray cattle and other animals on highways.

Additionally, the bench mandated that all national highways should have helpline numbers for the public to report sightings of stray animals. The Chief Secretaries of all States have been tasked with ensuring strict compliance within two weeks.

In a move to curb stray dog incidents near sensitive areas, the court further directed that government and private educational and healthcare institutions be fenced. States have been asked to identify such institutions requiring fencing within two weeks and begin preventive measures immediately.

The ruling underscores the Supreme Court’s focus on public safety, animal welfare, and better urban management, calling for coordinated action between civic bodies, highway authorities, and state administrations to maintain safer roads and public spaces.