Chandigarh, March 10: The Punjab State & Chandigarh (UT) Human Rights Commission has initiated legal proceedings regarding the sharp increase in stray dog attacks across the state. Taking suo motu cognisance of reports indicating that over 3.34 lakh dog bite cases were recorded in 2025 alone, the Commission has demanded detailed accounts from the Health Department and several major Municipal Corporations.
The Bench, comprising Chairperson Justice Sant Parkash and Member Justice Gurbir Singh, issued the directives to the Municipal Commissioners of Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, and Sangrur. Additionally, the Director of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, has been asked to provide a comprehensive report. The Commission stated that the current situation has transformed the stray dog menace into a significant public safety concern.
According to the Commission’s orders, the move was prompted by data showing that dog bite incidents have tripled over the last five years. From 1.10 lakh cases in 2020, the figure climbed steadily to reach the 2025 peak of 3,34,736 cases. The state has already reported more than 50,000 incidents in the early months of 2026.
The financial implications for the state are also a point of concern. Experts maintained that if compensation is awarded based on recent claims—where two cases exceeded Rs 10 lakh each—the potential liability for the state could surpass Rs 2,000 crore annually. In Sangrur, which is currently a focal point of the crisis, recent attacks on children in the Sunder Basti area have further intensified the call for immediate administrative action.
The Commission affirmed that the reports must be submitted one week prior to the next scheduled hearing on March 30.
