‘17 Districts Missing Data’: Gujarat High Court Slams Government and NHAI Over Stray Cattle and Dog Menace After Fatal Highway Crash

AHMEDABAD — Exposing severe administrative lapses in managing stray animals, the Gujarat High Court reprimanded the state government and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Thursday after revealing that the government lacks stray cattle and dog data for 17 districts. A division bench headed by the Chief Justice pulled up authorities during a suomotu hearing, issuing strict directives to collect and submit the missing figures ahead of an impending Supreme Court report deadline on October 30.

The High Court's stern intervention follows a tragic collision on a national highway where three to four passengers lost their lives when cows suddenly wandered into the path of a speeding vehicle. Raising serious alarm over commuter safety, the bench questioned accountability, pointing out that even passengers traveling in a Range Rover—considered among the safest vehicles globally—could not survive such highway collisions.

High Court Grills NHAI Over Highway Inaction

During the proceedings, the High Court directed pointed questions at the National Highways Authority of India regarding preventative measures following the deadly crash. The bench rejected the authority's habit of releasing seized cattle back to their owners, noting that such measures fail to address the core problem.

"You have no effective mechanism to keep cattle under control," the bench observed. "If vehicles travel at speeds of 100 to 120 km/h and cattle suddenly enter the road, fatal accidents are inevitable. While barricades might stop cows, they will not prevent stray dogs from running onto highways."

The court further highlighted that the greenery and landscaping developed along highway medians actively attract cows and buffaloes onto the carriageways to graze, inadvertently creating severe collision hazards for fast-moving traffic.

State Government and NHAI Trade Blame Over Liability

In response to the court's scrutiny, NHAI attempted to pass responsibility to the state government, arguing that housing seized cattle in shelters (gaushalas) or penalising cattle owners falls under state jurisdiction.

Faced with liability, the state government presented potential remedies before the court:

• Heavy Financial Penalties: Imposing steep fines on cattle owners whose livestock wander onto public roads and highways.
• Perimeter Fencing: Installing continuous railing and fencing on both sides of national highways to physically block cattle entry.

With the Supreme Court mandated to review the matter on October 30, the High Court ordered the Gujarat government to immediately gather comprehensive data on stray cattle and dogs from all 17 delinquent districts and present the full findings before the court without further delay.