HC: FRAME POLICY FOR RELIEF TO DOG BITE VICTIMS IN NONMC AREAS

CHANDIGARH : The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday directed Punjab and Haryana to frame policies for compensation to dog-bite victims of rural areas and non-municipal areas.

The direction came from the high court bench of justice RK Jain during the resumed hearing of a petition filed by one Ram Kumar, seeking appropriate directions to Punjab and the Samana municipal council to pay compensation to him for the death of his son.

His son Ankit, aged 12 years, and a student of Class 5, had died in March 2014 due to stray dog bite, wherein the high court had impleaded Haryana and Chandigarh administration, as well as Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, as respondents.

Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh Municipal Corporation had filed their respective affidavits.On the last date of hearing, the petitioner’s counsel, HC Arora, had pointed out to the court that Punjab and Haryana have framed policies for payment of such compensation for deaths caused by stray dog/animal bites taking place only within areas of MCs.

“Those policies do not cover areas beyond the boundaries of concerned municipalities. Thus, the two states should be directed to frame appropriate policies,” Arora had demanded. The court has now directed Punjab and Haryana to frame policies for those areas (rural areas) also which fall beyond jurisdiction of MCs before next date of hearing.

DIRECTION CAME DURING RESUMED HEARING OF A PETITION FILED BY ONE RAM KUMAR SEEKING DIRECTIONS TO PUNJAB AND SAMANA COUNCIL TO PAY COMPENSATION FOR DEATH OF HIS SON