Rajasthan HC Orders Special Drive to Clear Strays

The Rajasthan High Court has ordered a special drive to remove stray dogs, cattle, and other animals from city roads in major cities like Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur. This step comes after the court took suo motu cognizance of increasing incidents of dog bites and accidents caused by stray animals on roads, creating a threat to road safety and public life across Rajasthan.

The court's order directs municipal corporations to conduct this drive while causing minimum physical harm to the animals. It also gives officials the authority to take legal action, including lodging FIRs, against anyone who obstructs the municipal workers trying to clear the animals from public roads, colonies, and highways.

To facilitate public cooperation, the court instructed municipal bodies to set up complaint helplines—via phone or email—for citizens to report stray animals. Additionally, the court encouraged people who feed or care for these animals due to sentiments, religious beliefs, or love to do so only at designated shelters, dog pounds, cattle ponds (gaushalas), or facilities maintained by municipalities or authorized private organizations. This is aimed at balancing animal welfare concerns with public safety needs.

The Rajasthan High Court also directed the National Highways Authority and State Highways Authority to regularly patrol highways to ensure smooth vehicular movement and prevent accidents caused by stray animals. The court's concern was heightened by data highlighting the sharp rise in dog bite cases—over 140,000 cases reported in Rajasthan alone till early 2025—and the fatalities associated with animal-related accidents.

This order came in line with a similar Supreme Court directive issued on the same day to authorities in the National Capital Region (Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad) to immediately start removing stray dogs from residential localities to shelters.

The debate around handling stray animals pits public safety and hygiene against animal rights and welfare. Activists have expressed concerns that mass removal and shifting to shelter homes could overcrowd shelters and create challenges in proper animal care. Meanwhile, the court emphasized minimizing harm and providing alternatives for those who wish to care for animals, aiming for a balanced, humane approach.

In summary, the Rajasthan HC’s call for a special drive reflects growing public safety concerns while acknowledging community compassion for animals. It urges cooperation not just from authorities but also from citizens, aiming to make roads safer for people without neglecting the welfare of stray dogs and cattle in urban areas.

This judicial push underlines the complex issue of managing stray animals in Indian cities, spotlighting both the urgent need for action on public safety and the sensitivity required to handle the animals humanely.

With inputs from agencies

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