Bengaluru: The Karnataka Lokayukta has directed civic authorities under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and district administrations to submit comprehensive compliance reports on measures taken to tackle the stray dog menace in Bengaluru, while expressing concern over incomplete and inadequate reports submitted by several agencies.
The proceedings arise from a suo-motu case registered following the death of a 76-year-old retired teacher who was killed after being attacked by a pack of stray dogs inside the Indian Air Force residential campus at Jalahalli East in August 2024, an incident that sent shockwaves across the city and raised serious questions about urban animal control and public safety.
During the hearing, officials informed the Lokayukta that multiple steps have been initiated in line with the directions issued by the Supreme Court, including expansion of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) sterilisation programme, large-scale rabies vaccination drives, identification of designated feeding zones for stray dogs, and the establishment of new shelter homes. Authorities reported that over 1.5 lakh stray dogs have already been vaccinated, while sterilisation drives have been intensified across various zones of the city.
Civic bodies also informed the authority that land parcels have been identified for constructing shelter homes capable of housing hundreds of stray dogs. In one instance, land at S. Bingipura has been earmarked to accommodate nearly 500 dogs, and tenders have been floated for construction works. Funds amounting to โน183.60 lakh have been allocated for establishing and maintaining shelter homes, with an additional โน46 lakh earmarked for constructing facilities capable of housing around 100 dogs.
However, after examining the submissions, the Lokayukta observed that many of the reports lacked specific timelines, comprehensive details and clear action plans for implementing the directions issued by the Supreme Court in its judgment dated November 7, 2025 in SLP (Civil) No.14763/2024. The authority emphasised that both government and private hospitals must maintain mandatory stocks of anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulin, and that civic authorities must ensure strict compliance with the courtโs directions.
The Lokayukta also stressed that while public safety must be prioritised amid the rising number of dog bite incidents in Bengaluru, authorities must simultaneously ensure humane treatment, proper shelter and regulated feeding practices for stray animals in accordance with the law.
Officials have been directed to submit updated and comprehensive compliance reports by April 30, 2026, after which the matter will be reviewed again on May 8, 2026.
Officials who participated in the proceedings included Yatish R, Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Panchayath, Bengaluru Urban District; Shivakumar B, Deputy Secretary, Zilla Panchayath, Bengaluru Rural District; Anmol Jain, Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Panchayath, Bengaluru South District; Dr Asadulla Sharief, Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Bengaluru South District; Jaypal D, Executive Officer, Magadi Taluk; Dr Chandraiah, Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry, Greater Bengaluru Authority; Hemanth Sharan J, Joint Commissioner, and Dr M H Reddy, Chief Veterinary Officer, Bengaluru Central City Corporation; Mohammed Naeem Momin, Joint Commissioner, and Dr Gangadharaiah H K, Chief Veterinary Officer, Bengaluru North City Corporation; Ramesh K N, Commissioner, and Dr Srinath D N, Chief Veterinary Officer, Bengaluru South City Corporation; Dr Rudresh Kumar K C, Chief Veterinary Officer, Bengaluru East City Corporation; and Dr K M Venkatesh, Chief Veterinary Officer, Bengaluru West City Corporation. Animal welfare representatives Sujatha Prasanna, Nevina Kamath and Lina S, members of SPCA, were also present.
