‘No One Ready to Take Responsibility’: Allahabad HC on Ghaziabad Monkey Menace

The matter came before the bench of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra on September 19, 2025. The petitioners, represented by advocates Pawan Kumar Tiwari and Akash Vashishtha, highlighted the havoc caused by unchecked monkey populations in Ghaziabad, which has endangered public life and health. Despite repeated complaints, little action had been taken on the ground.

During the hearing, court noted that all state functionaries had admitted the existence of the problem, but none had accepted accountability. Instead, responsibility was being shifted from one department to another, leaving citizens to bear the brunt of official inaction. Court remarked that even though a meeting had been convened by the government to address the issue, the outcome was limited to further blame-shifting.

"Despite all the respondents agreeing to the fact that the monkey menace does exist and is creating havoc with the lives of the general public, none of the respondents apparently is prepared to take the responsibility to control the said menace. Each department is seeking to shift the responsibility to another," court said. 

The bench recorded that on 20 August 2025, the District Collector of Ghaziabad had written to the Secretary of the Urban Development Department, requesting necessary directions to tackle the menace. However, the Department failed to respond, compounding the problem and exposing bureaucratic apathy.

In light of this, the High Court ordered the impleadment of the Principal Secretary, Urban Development Department, as respondent no. 1A in the case. Notice was issued to the newly added respondent, and the Standing Counsel accepted the notice in court. The bench directed the Principal Secretary to file a report before the next hearing, detailing measures already taken and those proposed to ensure compliance with statutory duties.

The court specifically referred to the obligations of municipal authorities under the Uttar Pradesh Municipal Corporations Act, 1959, and the Uttar Pradesh Municipalities Act, 1916, stressing that local bodies cannot abdicate their responsibility to control stray and nuisance-causing animals. It observed that the Urban Development Department must ensure that these bodies act in accordance with the law.

Court has listed the matter for further hearing on October 31, 2025, by which time the Urban Development Department is expected to submit a comprehensive response. 

"...it would be required of respondent no.1A to indicate the steps, if any, taken and/or proposed to be taken to ensure that the local bodies are made to take care of their responsibility," court directed.

Case Title: Vineet Sharma and Another v. State of Uttar Pradesh and 11 Others

Order Date: September 19, 2025

Bench: Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra