News Date :
Jammu & Kashmir: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has issued notice to the government of Union Territory of Ladakh while taking suo motu cognizance of increasing dog bite cases. [Court on its own motion V/s Union Territory of Ladakh]
The bench of Chief Justice N Kotiswar Singh and Justice Sanjay Dhar issued the notice to several authorities including Legal Service Authority through its member secretary and directed them to file their response within two weeks.
Tahir Majid Shamsi, Deputy Solicitor General of India (DSGI), assisted by Rehana Qayoom accepted the notice on behalf of all respondents except Ladakh Legal Services Authority.
“PIL has been taken up suo moto by this Court upon certain facts being brought to the notice of the Chief Justice of this Court, wherein it has been 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”, the Court said.
The Court took cognisance after CJ Singh was informed that from 854 in 2017, registered dog bite cases in the Union Territory had increased to 2229 in 2022. He was further told that about 220 people were reportedly bitten by dogs in January, 2023 alone.
The Court said that the increasing registered dog bite cases have created fear psychosis not only amongst the local populace but also tourists, and that according to reports, the dogs were also attacking wild herbivores.
The matter will be heard on April 19, 2023.
