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The Orissa High Court has directed the Commissioner, Cuttack Municipal Corporation to relocate all the stray dogs from the campus of National Law University Odisha within 24 hours as 15 to 20 canines have attacked a student suffering from cerebral palsy 15 times and bitten him seven times.

A bench of Chief Justice S Talapatra and Justice Savitri Ratho passed the order on a PIL filed by National Law University of Odisha, after noting "consensus that immediate action for relocation of the dogs is to be carried out to bring back normalcy in the University campus".

The PIL sought relocation of the stray dogs from the campus of the National Law University Odisha, contending those dogs are causing threat to life of Aditya Roy Chowdhury, a first year student, who suffers from cerebral palsy and 65% disability. 

"In the last one month, he has been chased by the stray dogs in the University campus 15 times and bitten 7 times. The last attack was on 26th August, 2023. Each time he had to take Anti-Rabies Injection," it said.

Chowdhury also is suffering from acute anxiety and unstable blood pressure. His mental and physical health has been gravely affected by the series of incidents. before. On August 27, 2023, he had to be taken to the Hospital on account of his health condition. 

The plea also stated the dogs are not original habitants of the campus as those have migrated from the nearby locations like Brajabiharipur, Naraj etc and unless those are relocated to their original habitat, normalcy will not return to the University campus.

It also said the concerned student and his parents have requested to the University to ensure safety in the wake of multiple chasings and biting attack in the last one month. 

Due to ongoing mating season of dogs, the campus dogs have become even more aggressive, the petitioner said, also disclosing about attempts to sterilise those dogs. 

The petitioner asked the court to direct the Cuttack Municipal Corporation to immediately relocate the stray dogs from the campus to their original habitat in different villages in terms of the guidelines issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India.

A counsel appearing for the Cuttack Municipal Corporation submitted that it has a squad to pick up the stray dogs from the streets and other places and relocate them to places where they can find comfort and food-security. 

After hearing the parties, the bench said, "Having regard to gravity of the situation and the consensus that is formed between the counsel for the petitioner and the opposite party, we direct the Commissioner, Cuttack Municipal Corporation to engage the concerned squad under supervision of the Health Officer for relocating all the stray dogs from the campus of the National Law University of Odisha within 24 hours from now."

Case Title: National Law University of Orissa Vs Cuttack Municipal Corporation

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