How many more deaths due to strays? HC slams cops, NMC over Kalamna child death

Time of India

6 hours ago

Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Monday came down hard on the city police and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) for "consistent inaction" on stray dog attacks, following the tragic death of a boy who fell from a sixth-floor balcony in Kalamna while fleeing from a stray dog.
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A visibly anguished division bench of Justices Anil Kilor and Manohar Nerlikar verbally asked pointedly, "How many times must we repeat ourselves?" while hearing a public interest litigation filed by activist Vijay Talewar. The PIL, filed in 2022, sought sustained action against the growing threat of stray dog attacks across Nagpur.
Senior counsel Firdos Mirza, appearing for the petitioner, brought to the court's notice the recent fatal incident, in which the minor fell to his death, reported in the media.
Mirza submitted that this was not an isolated case and warned that if authorities continued to ignore their legal duty, more lives would be lost. "Under the Mumbai Police Act, the police are duty-bound to prevent such public nuisances. But no concrete preventive mechanism seems to exist," he said.
The court observed that its earlier directives dated October 20 and November 23, 2022, clearly laid out preventive actions, yet there was no evidence of implementation.
The judges directed both the commissioner of police and the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to file detailed affidavits on their compliance with previous court orders and list all actions taken to control the stray menace.
Additional govt pleader Deepak Thakare represented the state while Ashwin Deshpande pleaded on behalf of intervenor Dhantoli Nagrik Mandal, and deputy solicitor general of India Nandesh Deshpande appeared for the central govt.
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The NMC was also asked to specifically report on the availability of anti-rabies vaccines. While Mirza pointed out an ongoing shortage in the city, counsel for the NMC, Sudhir Puranik, countered that vaccines were available. The court directed that this discrepancy be clarified through an affidavit.
"It is expected that both the commissioner of police and the municipal commissioner shall file affidavits on or before July 23," the court stated, scheduling the next hearing for July 25.
The PIL names 15 respondents, including the state govt, police, civic authorities, and animal welfare boards.
The court's strong observations come amid growing public outrage over the city's stray dog problem. With several attacks reported in recent months and limited visible action on sterilisation or containment, the judiciary has now made it clear that further lapses will not be tolerated.