Rights panel asks DC to intervene

Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 15

The menace of stray dogs in the city and alarming rise in cases of dog bite in various localities has rankled the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) which has now directed the Deputy Commissioner to intervene to redress the grievances and sort out the issue as per law of the land. The Commission has also sought an action taken report before the next date of hearing on August 2.

Making interim orders on a complaint (3921/10/2019) filed by the Council of RTI Activists secretary Arvind Sharma, PSHRC chairperson Justice Iqbal Ahmed Ansari recorded: “The complainant alleges that dog menace is on the rise in Ludhiana, and the municipal authorities are not taking any action to control the same. The complainant has also cited a recent incident wherein a youth was attacked by the (stray) dogs.

The PSHRC chairperson observed that the Commission considered it appropriate to send a copy of the complaint to the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, for disposal of the complaint at his end, in accordance with law. The orders further directed that the action taken report be sent to the Commission before the next date of hearing, whereupon further action, if any required, would be taken by the Commission.

In response to the orders made by the PSHRC, the Deputy Commissioner has forwarded the complaint of Arvind Sharma to the Municipal Commissioner (vide his letter no 4175-76/CCA3 dated July 1, 2019) with the remarks that action be taken on the complaint and the complainant be informed accordingly. It has also been mentioned that the matter should be accorded top priority.

The complaint would come up for hearing next on on August 2.