Rights Panel moves High Court over Lack of Dog-Bite Compensation

Taking note of how victims of street-dog bites have been struggling to get compensation for more than past four years, the Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) has moved the Madhya Pradesh HC.

The court issued summons to the state govt in the case which has its next hearing on Mar 16.

Speaking to News Agency, Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) chairman Justice (retd) Narendra Kumar Jain said, “The number of street dogs is increasing menacingly & the human rights of the victims should be protected. We have sought the help of the HC for their compensation.”

In an order passed in May last year, the commission had recommended the formation of a Dog Bite Victim Compensation Scheme (DBVCS) in this regard or make amendments in the revenue book circular (RBC) of the revenue department within three months.

The commission had also recommended, “Till new rules are formed, the victim’s family — in case of death — may be paid Rs2 lakh as interim relief, & Rs10,000 to Rs1 lakh in case of injury. An inquiry should be done before compensation is paid to the victim.”

The 20-page order dealt with the merits of the case & looked into why compensation should be given to victims.

When Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) first took up the case of death of a Khargone girl due to a stray dog bite in 2016, & highlighted that there was no provision of financial assistance in the revenue book circular (RBC) in case of loss of life by animals, the revenue department in January 2017 had said there were no such provisions even in the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan & Chattisgarh.

The commission has now recommended the govt to make necessary amendments in the relevant sections of the revenue book circular (RBC) to compensate victims.

The Commission had also urged the govt to form a Dog Bite Victim Compensation Scheme (DBVCS) for compensating the victim in case of death or injury by street dogs. “You may give a different name to the scheme & may form it with the help of Crime Victim Compensation Scheme, 2015. The victim of dog bite may be compensated immediately or at the most within two months of the incident of dog bite after holding an investigation,” it had stated.

As an alternative to the Dog Bite Victim Compensation Scheme (DBVCS), the commission recommended to “make necessary amendments” in Section 6 (4) of the revenue book circular (RBC).

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