Kerala High Court: In a writ petition praying to permit Justice Siri Jagan Committee to continue to receive and assess applications pending before it and to direct the State as well as local authorities to pay victims of attacks by animals and reptiles, the compensation as assessed by the Committee, pending disposal, C.S. Dias, J., directed the State and KELSA to discuss the matter and place on record the proposed measures to be adopted to redress the grievances of the victims of animal and reptile bite attacks before the next posting date.
The Court noted that numerous persons in the State suffer fatal and serious injuries from attacks by animals and reptiles.
After taking note of Supreme Court judgment, wherein the Court has constituted a committee to redress the grievances of the victims who suffered injuries from canine bites, and the alarming number of untoward incidents from animal and reptile attacks reported in the State, and the absence of comprehensive legislation on the subject, the Court viewed that matter requires serious and urgent consideration, in consultation with the stakeholders.
Noting that the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KELSA) has a well-established framework throughout the State at the grass-root level, the Court viewed that the KELSA is a necessary party in this writ petition to facilitate discussions with the Government, formulation of guidelines and working out the modalities for addressing the grievances of the victims.
Hence, the Court suo motu impleaded the KELSA as the additional sixth respondent in the writ petition. The Court directed the Registry to carry out the impleadment and issue notice to the Member Secretary, KELSA.
The Court also directed the State and KELSA to discuss the matter and place on record the proposed measures to be adopted to redress the grievances of the victims of animal and reptile bite attacks before the next posting date.
The matter will next be taken up on 09-01-2025.
[Cultural Academy for Peace v. State of Kerala, 2024 SCC OnLine Ker 7478, decided on 18-12-2024]
