Bombay High Court Threatens Contempt Action Against Goa Civic Officials Over Failure To Submit Stray Dog, Cattle Data
The Bombay High Court has warned that it may initiate contempt proceedings against Panchayat Secretaries, Chief Officers of Municipal Councils and the Commissioner of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) for failing to comply with directions on collecting data about stray dogs, pet dogs and stray cattle, and setting up temporary animal shelters. The Court reiterated that the officials must comply with its directions and file the required reports.
A division bench of Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Amit S. Jamsandekar was hearing a suo motu writ petition initiated pursuant to the Supreme Court's directions in City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price, concerning compliance with directions on stray dogs.
The Court noted that despite its order dated September 10, 2026, the concerned local authorities had not compiled and submitted the required data on stray dogs, domesticated or pet dogs, and stray cattle to the Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services. The data on dogs was required to include their gender and sterilisation status.
“None of the Panchayat Secretaries/Chief Officers of Municipal Councils/Commissioner of the CCP till date have complied with this part of the order and sent its compilation of data to the Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services. These directions were to be complied with latest by 22.10.2026,” the Court remarked.
The Court directed all Panchayat Secretaries, Chief Officers of Municipal Councils and the CCP Commissioner to submit the compiled data to the Director and file copies of the reports before the Court by October 22, 2026.
With respect to pet dogs, the Court noted that the authorities had also failed to provide ward-wise data on their numbers, gender and sterilisation status. Further, no material had been placed on record regarding door-to-door campaigns to promote sterilisation and awareness about vaccination, immunisation, deworming, waste management, responsible feeding and adoption of stray dogs. The authorities were expected to place their action taken on record by the next hearing.
Regarding stray cattle, the Court reiterated that the local bodies were required to compile ward-wise data and forward separate lists to the Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services by October 22, 2026. It directed that the complete compilation be filed before the Court by the next hearing.
Taking note of the clear remiss in complying with its earlier directions, the Court warned that if the directions were not followed by the next date of hearing, it would have no option but to initiate contempt proceedings against the officials responsible for refusing to comply or neglecting their duties.
“… we make it clear that if these directions are not complied with or followed by the next date of hearing, we would have no option but to proceed to take contempt proceedings against each of these Panchayat Secretaries/Chief Officers of Municipal Councils/Commissioner of the CCP who have indulged in refusal to comply with the direction or remiss with their duties,” the Court remarked.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 26, 2026.
Case Title: In Re: Compliance with the Directions Issued by the Supreme Court in SMWP Nos. 5 of 2025 Stray Dogs v. The State of Goa [Suo Motu Writ Petition No. 2 of 2026]