The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in the case Court On Its Own Motion Vs UT of Ladakh observed and has taken suo motu note of the increasing number of dog bite cases in Ladakh and the public interest litigation, PIL has been initiated on the issue.
The division bench comprising of Chief Justice N. Kotiswar Singh and Justice Sanjay Dhar observed and has directed the administration for filing a response within two weeks to the Public Interest Litigation.
The court in the case observed and has noted that the registered dog bite cases have drastically increased in Ladakh in the year 2017 from 854 wherein it rise to 2229 in the year 2022, and about 220 people were reportedly bitten by dogs in the month of January, 2023.
The court observed and has raised concerns that the same drastic surge in the cases has not only created fear among the local population but has also created fear among the tourists who are visiting Ladakh.
Further, the court observed that the street dogs are attacking wild herbivores and it being the matter of grave concern for the local people and for the cattle owners.
Thus, the notice has been issued by the bench to the Commissioner/Secretary, Union Territory of Leh-Ladakh; Secretary, the Department of Animal Husbandry; the Deputy Commissioner, Kargil; chairmans of Municipal Committee, Leh and Kargil; the Director, Health Services, the Kargil, and Member Secretary, Ladakh Legal Services Authority.
Accordingly, the court listed the matter to be next heard on April 19, 2023.
