Supreme Court panel to curb dog menace in Kerala

KOCHI: The Justice Siri Jagan committee appointed by the Supreme Court to study the stray dog menace and to recommend compensation for the victims of dog bites will hold sittings in all districts. The committee’s office formally started functioning in Kochi on Thursday. It is for the first time that a committee has been appointed to address the stray dog menace. The committee will serve notice on the  state government and the local body concerned before conducting the sitting. The fact-finding panel headed by the retired High Court judge constituted in April will assess the gravity of dog bites, reasons for death, if any, and availability of anti- rabies vaccines free of cost in all hospitals and submit a report to the apex court.   

Justice Siri Jagan told reporters  that though more than one lakh dog bites were being reported from Kerala every year, only 20 claims for compensation had been received so far. “Though the committee has published a notice in the media, it received lukewarm response. Victims of dog bites can submit complaints to the committee either directly, through phone, e-mail or post. We will assess the wound and expense of treatment and submit a recommendation to the SC which will decide the compensation. No upper ceiling has been fixed for the compensation,” he said. The three-member committee, including B.G Harindranath, law secretary, and Dr. R. Ramesh, director of health services,  will visit hospitals to ensure availability of anti-rabies vaccine.

The panel has already submitted five recommendations to the apex court, including availability of anti-rabies vaccine in all hospitals, training to all medical officers, nurses on animal bites, proper waste management, control of stray dogs and licensing of domesticated animals with proper vaccination. “As per the SC directive, the committee will be only responsible for recommending the compensation and availability of vaccine.  Hence, it  will not have any say in fixing the amount, culling stray dogs or activities for stray dog population control,” he added.