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Synopsis

The Delhi High Court, recently, observed that the city is no longer safe for pedestrians, as hundreds of incidents of rabies bites occurred daily due to the negligent behavior of certain members of the civic community. The court made these observations in petitions filed by NGOs sharing concerns about the rapidly growing populations of stray dogs and monkeys. 

The bench of Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela held, “Delhi is no longer a safe city for pedestrians with hundreds of rabies bites everyday due to careless attitude of some members of civic society. Is it fair that people should get food from home and feed it to dogs as well as monkeys in public parks and round abouts making them unsafe for small children, disabled people and elderly?”. 

The court acknowledged that individuals with disabilities had a fundamental right to move freely on the streets of Delhi without fear of attacks from stray animals such as monkeys and dogs. The court highlighted the unfortunate reality that Delhi had become increasingly unsafe for pedestrians due to frequent incidents of rabies bites, a situation exacerbated by the negligent actions of certain members of society. 

The court raised concerns about the practice of individuals feeding stray animals in public parks, a habit that posed risks to vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and those with disabilities. Additionally, the court pointed out that banana sellers stationed near city forests and green belts encouraged monkeys to abandon their natural diets and become dependent on human-provided food, leading them to interact aggressively with pedestrians.

Observing further, the court noted that roadside eateries, canteens, and charitable food distribution sites around large hospitals, including AIIMS, left significant amounts of food waste on the streets, attracting animals and increasing the likelihood of animal attacks on patients and visitors. It also addressed the activities of individuals who distributed cooked food from vans throughout the city, which resulted in a concerning increase in monkey populations in public areas, leading to daily incidents of bites and other attacks on citizens.

The court stressed that for Delhi to achieve world-class city status; its residents and civic bodies must uphold global standards of coexisting with urban wildlife. Following mutual agreement among the parties, the court instructed the Chief Secretary of the GNCTD to convene a meeting on November 4, 2024, at 4:30 PM. 

Moreover, the court ordered that the monkeys be relocated from Delhi to the Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary under the supervision of wildlife officers or animal experts to prevent any harm to the animals. 

Case Title: Nyaya Bhoomi v Govt. Of NCT Of Delhi (W.P.(C) 3346/2015)