Human rights commission issues notices to Punjab MCs, Health Department over dog bite cases
Move comes after commission takes suo motu cognisance of Tribune report '3.34 lakh dog bite cases in Punjab, Sangrur in focus'
A day after The Tribune published a report on the increasing menace of stray dogs in various districts of Punjab, the Punjab State & Chandigarh (UT) Human Rights Commission took suo motu cognisance of this matter and called for reports from Punjab’s Municipal Commissioners and the Health Department.
“The Commission based upon the news items published in leading daily under the caption "3.34 lakh dog bite cases in Punjab, Sangrur in focus" indicating that menace of stray dogs has become a major public safety concern with over 3.34 lakh dog bite cases reported in 2025”, read the orders.
The commission, comprising chairperson Justice Sant Parkash and Member Justice Gurbir Singh of Punjab State & Chandigarh (UT) Human Rights Commission, while taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, called for reports from Commissioners of the Municipal Corporations of Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala and and Sangrur, besides the Director, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, Chandigarh. They were directed to submit their report a week before the next date of hearing on March 30.
The Tribune highlighted on Monday how the economic impact is staggering. With two recent claims exceeding Rs 10 lakh each, if the state's 3.34 lakh annual cases are compensated, the burden could cross Rs 2,000 crore.
In Sangrur alone, recent dog bites could cost the Municipal Council over Rs 10 crore. Advocate and social activist Kamal Anand highlighted three recent cases in which children were brutally bitten in the Sunder Basti area of Sangrur.
The dog bite cases in Punjab have seen a threefold rise in the past five years. From 1.10 lakh cases in 2020, the state reported a staggering 3.34 lakh dog bite cases in 2025, the highest ever recorded in a single year. Punjab has already logged over 50,000 cases in 2026.
The state recorded 1,10,472 cases in 2020, which rose to 1,26,842 in 2021, followed by 1,65,133 cases in 2022 and 2,02,439 cases in 2023, respectively. In 2024, the state logged 2,13,521 cases, followed by 3,34,736 cases in 2025.
