Supreme Court Demands National Policy on Stray Cattle Management in India
SC seeks Centre, states’ response on plea for national policy on stray cattle
The Indian Express
Image: The Indian Express
The Supreme Court of India has issued notices to the Centre and states regarding a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) for a uniform national policy on stray cattle management. The petition highlights the rising accidents and agricultural losses due to stray cattle, urging for a centralized framework to address the issue effectively.
- 01The Supreme Court has called for a national policy to manage stray cattle.
- 02The petition cites over 193 million cattle in India and rising accidents.
- 03Madhya Pradesh reported 237 accidents with 94 deaths related to stray cattle.
- 04Odisha recorded 3,023 accidents leading to 1,601 fatalities.
- 05Farmers in Himachal Pradesh face annual crop losses between ₹1,500-2,000 crore due to stray cattle.
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On Monday, the Supreme Court of India issued notices to the Centre, all states, and the Animal Welfare Board of India regarding a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a national policy for managing stray cattle. The petition, filed by the Chandigarh-based NGO Lawyers for Human Rights International, emphasizes the urgent need for a uniform system to regulate the movement of stray and abandoned cattle, which has become a significant issue across the country. According to the 2019–20 livestock census, India has over 193 million cattle, and the lack of a coordinated approach has resulted in increasing accidents and agricultural damage. The petition cites alarming statistics, including 237 stray-cattle-related accidents in Madhya Pradesh with 94 fatalities, and 3,023 accidents in Odisha leading to 1,601 deaths between 2022 and 2024. In Punjab, an average of 31 deaths occur monthly due to cattle collisions. The impact on agriculture is also severe, with farmers in Himachal Pradesh abandoning large areas of land, resulting in estimated crop losses of ₹1,500-2,000 crore annually. The petition calls for a comprehensive framework for cattle management, including tagging, sheltering, and rehabilitation, and seeks enforcement of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. It argues that the current piecemeal judicial directions have failed to resolve the issue, reflecting a policy vacuum at the national level.
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This ruling could lead to a significant overhaul in how stray cattle are managed in India, potentially reducing accidents and agricultural losses.
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