(IN): Compensate dog bite victims: AP High Court

April 25, 2007

Compensate dog bite victims: AP High Court

Tejeswi Pratima, Uma Sudhir

Tuesday, April 24, 2007 (Hyderabad)

The Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad, which is already under attack

for the increasing cases of dog bites in the city, has a new worry.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has asked why it should not be asked to

pay Rs 10,000 compensation to every dog bite victim.

If the court has its way, the Corporation may have to set aside up to

Rs 50 crore a year to pay compensation to those bitten by dogs. There

are about 50,000 dog bites in the city every year.

The State Human Rights Commission has also shared the court's view on

compensation.

''I awarded Rs one lakh compensation against the government and the

municipal corporation when a four-year-old girl died because of dog

bite. Take the case of the young girls,'' said Subashan Reddy,

Chairman, SHRC.

''There is lot of life ahead for them. They have to find a good match

for their marriage. What if they are defaced or handicapped? What if

one of their hand or leg gets amputated? What happens?'' Reddy added.

The MCH says paying compensation to every dog bite victim is not

practical.

''We are looking into our bylaws to see there is any way we can

compensate such people,'' said Sanjay Jaju, Municipal Commissioner,

Hyderabad.

In its defence, the municipal authorities point out that they have

prioritised the animal birth control programme of vaccinating,

sterilising and releasing dogs and is spending Rs 434 for the

operation on each dog.

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