The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Animal Welfare Board in Haryana to investigate the rising incidents of dog bites across the state and submit a report on the measures taken to address the issue. The direction comes after a news report citing data presented in the Lok Sabha by the Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, revealed that in 2024 alone, nearly 21.95 lakh dog bite cases were recorded, including five lakh children among the victims. Further, 37 fatalities were also reported.
According to the Bar and Bench, a complaint was filed to the NHRC by Anubhava Shrivastava Shahai, raising serious concerns about the issue, condemning the state governments for their failure to address the crisis effectively. She pointed out lapses in stray dog population control, citing inconsistent sterilization efforts and insufficient infrastructure to implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) guidelines properly. She also highlighted the absence of adequate shelter homes to house aggressive or dangerous stray dogs for observation, a requirement under the 2023 ABC Guidelines. This deficiency, she argued, has exacerbated the problem, leading to a continuous rise in the stray dog population and increasing distress among residents.
Shahai also noted that monitoring committees at central, state, and local levels were either non-functional or, in some instances, absent in certain states and districts. Seeking urgent intervention, she urged authorities to issue notices to the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and all state governments, calling for immediate action to address the situation.
In response, NHRC Assistant Registrar (Law) Brijvir Singh instructed that the matter be referred to the Chairman of the Animal Welfare Board of India, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying in Faridabad, Haryana. The board has been directed to investigate the concerns raised in the complaint and submit an Action Taken Report within four weeks. Additionally, the Commission ordered that a copy of the complaint be forwarded for necessary action as per its directives.