HC seeks suggestion on steps taken by authorities on dog menace

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 24: High Court has sought suggestion to the response filed by the authorities with regard to steps taken so far in order to control dog menace in Ladakh.
The division bench of Chief Justice N Kotiswar Singh and Justice M A Chowdhary directed the counsel for the petitioners to prepare a chart of the measures suggested by them and the steps stated to have been taken by the Authorities.
Court has also directed for informing any kind of deficiencies on part of the authorities to curb the dog bites in Ladakh as well as in Srinagar. “The chart with suggestions be filed within a period of three weeks’ with an advance copy of the counsel for the respondents”, DB directed.
Court was hearing the sumoto cognizance taken about increase in dog bite cases in Ladakh Union Territory and had issued notice to concerned authorities for filing of response to the issue raised in the matter.
The Suo-moto cognizance was taken upon certain facts brought to the notice of the Chief Justice, wherein it was highlighted 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.
It has further been noted that canine fear has created psychos not only amongst the local populace but also the tourists. It has been further reported that street dogs are attacking wild herbivores which is also of grave concern for the local people and cattle owners.
In view of these facts the court has made party the Commissioner Secretary to Leh-Ladakh, Secretary department of Animal Husbandry Leh-Ladakh, Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, Chairman Municipal Committee, Leh, Chairman Municipal Committee, Kargil, Director Health Services, Kargil and Ladakh Legal Services Authority, through its Member Secretary.