Dogs Maul Minor Boy To Death In Lucknow: Allahabad High Court Registers Suo Moto Case On Menace Created By Stray Dog

Taking note of an unfortunate incident wherein an eight-year-old boy was killed and his sister was severely injured after they were attacked by more than 20 stray dogs, the Allahabad High Court today registered a suo moto case regarding the menace created on account of unchecked stray dogs on the streets of Lucknow.

The bench of Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Subhash Vidyarthi took note of the incident while referring to the newspaper reports of the incident and termed the news as extremely disturbing. 

"Nothing can be more pain giving for a human being than to learn a human life being lost in such a manner. As per the news paper reports, stray dogs attacked the brother and sister duo and killed the brother separating his sister from him forever, perhaps to meet in only the next birth. The description of the incident in the newspaper reports has the potential of disturbing even the strongest mind, which compels us to take suo moto cognizance of the issue relating to the menace created on account of unchecked stray dogs on the streets of Lucknow," the Court observed.

To ensure that the sister of the deceased, who is presently in a serious condition, is given proper medical care and attention and treatment, the Court directed the Chief Medical Officer, Lucknow to provide all medical assistance to her by contacting her family members and getting her admitted for treatment in the appropriate department of the King George Medical University, Lucknow.

"All possible medical treatment shall be given to the injured girl child without any charges. The charges, if any, shall be borne by the State Government. The Vice-Chancellor of King George's Medical University, Lucknow shall personally supervise the treatment to be given to her," the Court sternly observed.

The Court also directed the Additional Advocate General to take the following steps:

- Apprise the District Magistrate, Lucknow of the incident and also of the concerns of the Court expressed in the order.

- Seek instructions as to how the family of the deceased- boy child can be monetarily or otherwise compensated on account of his tragic death in the incident narrated above.

- Serve a copy of the order upon the Additional Chief Secretary/ Principal Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh in the Department of Urban Development and also to Additional Chief Secretary/ Principal Secretary in the Department of Animal Husbandry.

- Apprise the State Government in the respective departments of the concerns of the Court.

Having regard to the significance of the issue, the Court also appointed Advocates Vijay Dixit, Mohit Pandey, and Abhishek Pratap as Amicus Curiae in the case to assist the Court. With this, the matter will now appear on April 19, 2022

Case title - Suo-Moto In Re: Menace Created By Stray Dogs

Click Here To Read/Download Order