Ladakh: HC takes suo-motu PIL on spike in dog bite cases

Srinagar, April 01: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has issued notice to Ladakh administration in a suo-motu public interest litigation (PIL) regarding increase in dog bite cases in Ladakh.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice N. Kotiswar Singh and Justice Sanjay Dhar directed the Ladakh administration to file a response to the PIL within two weeks.
The bench initiated the suo motu PIL after it was brought into their notice that the registered dog bite cases in Ladakh have exponentially increased from 854 in 2017 to 2229 in 2022 and about 220 people were reportedly bitten by dogs in January, 2023 alone.
The court noted that it has created fear psychos not only amongst the local populace but also the tourists.
The court further noted that street dogs are attacking wild herbivores which is also of grave concern for the local people and cattle owners.
Under these circumstances, the bench issued notice to Commissioner/Secretary, Union Territory of Leh-Ladakh, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry, Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, Chairman of Municipal Committee, Leh and Kargil respectively, Director, Health Services, Kargil and Member Secretary, Ladakh Legal Services Authority.
The Deputy Solicitor General of India accepted the notice on behalf of the Ladakh administration.
The bench directed the respondents to file their response to the PIL within two weeks and posted the matter for hearing on April 19.