The Allahabad High Court has mandated a comprehensive district-level mapping of all institutional premises across Uttar Pradesh to ensure strict enforcement of Supreme Court guidelines on stray dog management.
A division bench comprising Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Garima Prashad issued the instructions while hearing a suo motu public interest litigation monitoring the implementation of apex court directives. The High Court directed the Uttar Pradesh government, through the principal secretary of the Urban Development Department, to compile a detailed inventory listing both public and private institutions across every district and municipal body.
Functional Test For High-Risk Locations
Under the court order issued on July 29, state authorities must catalog facilities such as educational institutions, primary health centers, hospitals, medical colleges, athletic complexes, bus depots, and railway stations. The bench emphasized that the classification of institutional areas extends beyond specific labels and must be determined through a functional assessment. This evaluation requires authorities to analyze daily footfall, the presence of vulnerable groups—including children, senior citizens, patients, and tourists—and the degree of public safety risk posed by stray dogs.
The required inventory must record each facility’s exact location, the administrative head in charge, and the local governing authority holding jurisdiction over the site.
Central Facilities And Highway Safety Protocols
The court extended these compliance obligations to Union government establishments operating within Uttar Pradesh. Central ministries and departments must submit a separate district-wise listing of universities, colleges, hospitals, transit facilities, and sports venues under their administrative jurisdiction.
Addressing animal management along major roadways, the bench instructed state authorities and the National Highways Authority of India to detail their operational mechanisms for securing highways. Both entities must outline procedures for identifying vulnerable stretches on national highways, state highways, and expressways, as well as protocols for transferring stray cattle to shelters or pounds with proper provision for food, water, and veterinary care.
Additionally, the High Court asked the state government to assess whether local municipal laws enable the regulation of stray dogs in public parks, playgrounds, gardens, and other recreational spaces. The court formally took on record summary flow charts provided by the amicus curiae regarding the Supreme Court judgments from November 2025 and May 2026.
The matter is set for its next hearing on August 13.
