High Court puts Punjab, Haryana, UT Admn on notice

Source: tribuneindia.com

Taking suo motu cognisance of a report carried in these columns on two pet pit bull dogs seriously injuring a 23-year-old boy in Mohali district, Justice Arvind Singh Sangwan of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today put the states of Punjab and Haryana, along with the UT, Chandigarh, on notice before asking the owner to explain why compensation of Rs 2 lakh be not awarded to the victim.

In his note for treating the matter as “Court on its own motion” case, Justice Sangwan asked the state of Punjab through the directors, Urban Local Government, and the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat, to give details about the existing policy/instructions /bylaws regarding the management of ferocious dogs like pit bulls.Justice Sangwan made it clear that the affidavit would also explain the instructions issued on preventive measures such as registration of ferocious dogs like pit bulls and maintenance of vaccination at government veterinary hospital/registered veterinarian. Justice Sangwan added the affidavit would also specify whether such ferocious dogs could be permitted to be kept in the small houses/plots/flats/shops, which were thickly populated.

Justice Sangwan also directed the Director, Animal Husbandry, Punjab, to file an affidavit identifying dog breeds, which were ferocious and could attack human beings. Directions were also issued to furnish details of breeders in the business of selling such dogs.

Directions were further issued to the Mohali Deputy Commissioner to file an affidavit with regard to preventive measures taken by the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to avoid pet dog attacks. The affidavit would also explain the provisions for issuance of licences/registration, if any, to keep ferocious dogs and whether the accused owner of the two dogs had obtained a licence/registration. 

The SHO concerned was also asked to give details of persons bitten by the two dogs and whether legal action was initiated.

Referring to the news item, Justice Sangwan added the seriously injured boy was taken to Sector 16 government hospital, where he was given 65 stitches. A perusal of the FIR registered in the matter showed that the two pit bull dogs had even on 

an earlier occasion attacked another inhabitant of the village.

Justice Sangwan added that the Station House Officer (SHO), Mullanpur Garibdas police station, had shown photographs of the injured during his treatment at the hospital, clearly showing than 

he suffered multiple injuries on his entire body, including the neck, as he was caught by the dogs from there. 

“It will be appropriate to issue directions to the Director-General, Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, Chandigarh, to give complete details of the injuries and treatment given to the victim and also give a specific opinion as to whether the injuries sustained by the injured on his neck, if he was not rescued by others, could have proved fatal,” Justice Sangwan further added.