Taking a stern view of the unchecked monkey menace across Uttar Pradesh, the Allahabad High Court has directed the state’s urban development department to submit an affidavit detailing concrete steps taken or proposed to be taken under the Uttar Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act and Uttar Pradesh Municipalities Act.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra noted that despite repeated concerns, different departments were shifting responsibility to one another, resulting in complete inaction from the state government in framing an action plan or standard operating procedures. The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by social worker Vineet Sharma along with another plea.
The bench observed that no serious steps were taken even after the Ghaziabad district magistrate, in a letter dated August 20, highlighted the urgent need to tackle the issue. “The needful shall be done before the next date,” the bench ordered, fixing October 31 as the next hearing.
Counsel for the petitioners apprised the court of the growing miseries faced by residents across the state due to frequent monkey attacks, while the animals themselves were suffering from hunger and starvation owing to dwindling food sources. Newspaper clippings were produced before the court, documenting violent monkey attacks in Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Sitapur, Bareilly and Agra. The counsel argued that the crisis extended well beyond a few districts and was a statewide problem.
The petitioners stressed that after monkeys were de-notified from the Schedule of the Wildlife Protection Act, the responsibility for their management shifted to local bodies under municipal laws. “It is their duty to abate nuisances and ensure safety and convenience of the public,” the counsel submitted.
The PIL calls for an urgent action plan that includes setting up infirmaries and veterinary care centres, adequate transport or rescue vans, relocation of monkeys to forest areas, provision of food supplies, and establishment of a 24×7 grievance helpline portal to address complaints.
The bench has made the urban development department a party to the proceedings, holding it accountable as the supervisory authority for all municipalities in the state.
