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The Supreme Court of India has sought responses from the Centre, states and relevant authorities on a petition addressing the issue of stray cattle entering highways. The plea calls for uniform national guidelines, mandatory fencing of accident-prone stretches, and proper funding for cattle shelters. It also proposes penalties for abandonment of cattle and a no-fault compensation system for accident victims. The matter builds on earlier court directions and highlights gaps in implementation, as rising road accidents linked to stray animals continue to raise safety concerns.
The Supreme Court of India has asked the Centre, state governments and other authorities to respond to a petition seeking measures to prevent stray cattle from entering highways. The matter was heard by a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, which issued notices and directed all concerned parties to file their responses within four weeks. Advertisement
The petition has been filed by Lawyers For Human Rights International, which has urged the court to direct authorities to frame and implement uniform national guidelines to address cattle intrusion on highways. It has highlighted that the absence of a standard framework has led to inconsistent action across states, increasing risks for commuters on both national and state highways.
The plea has sought mandatory fencing of highways and expressways, especially along stretches identified as accident-prone. It has pointed out that while some sections have protective barriers, many areas remain open, allowing cattle to wander onto roads. The petition has also recommended better coordination between highway authorities, local bodies and law enforcement agencies to ensure regular monitoring and removal of stray animals.
It has further proposed the establishment of scientifically managed cattle shelters or gaushalas, supported by dedicated funding. The petitioner has raised concerns that lack of proper infrastructure and financial support has led to poor management of stray cattle. It has also called for strict penalties against illegal abandonment of cattle, stating that this is one of the key reasons behind the growing number of stray animals on highways.
In addition, the plea has suggested introducing a no-fault compensation mechanism for victims of accidents caused by stray cattle. This is aimed at providing timely financial relief without lengthy legal processes, especially in cases where liability is difficult to establish.
During the hearing, the bench observed that several states were collecting cow cess but were not taking adequate steps to resolve the issue. The petitioner's counsel submitted that although the issue overlaps with ongoing matters related to stray animals, this petition focuses specifically on the risks posed by cattle on highways and requires targeted measures.
The issue is linked to earlier directions issued by the apex court in cases related to stray animals. In previous proceedings, authorities were asked to remove stray cattle from highways and explore setting up shelters through corporate social responsibility initiatives tied to highway projects. However, implementation has remained uneven across states.
Road safety concerns linked to stray animals have been increasing over the past few years. States such as Maharashtra have carried out special drives to remove stray cattle from highways and improve coordination between civic bodies and traffic authorities. These actions followed court observations on the rising number of accidents involving animals on roads.
The current proceedings aim to bring consistency in policy and enforcement across the country, while also addressing both safety and animal welfare concerns in a structured manner. The matter is expected to be taken up again after the responses from the concerned authorities are submitted.
Source PTI
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