Supreme Court to form special bench for NHAI's challenge on cattle shelters
The Supreme Court agreed to set up a special bench to hear the National Highways Authority of India's challenge to a directive ordering it to build stray-cattle shelters across the country.
During a hearing on stray-animal management, the Supreme Court decided to create a special bench to consider the National Highways Authority of India's petition against a court order requiring it to build shelters for stray cattle nationwide. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the judges that the directive would cost roughly Rs 7,000 crore and that the NHAI lacks the capacity to execute it on a pan-India basis, urging that local district administrations handle the task.
He also requested that one outlet bench, which includes Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria, be reconstituted. The new bench will be headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and will include Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana. The hearing further covered matters concerning stray dogs and clarified the roles of various government agencies in animal management.
Why it matters
The ruling will determine who bears the cost and responsibility for building cattle shelters, affecting a multi-billion-rupee budget and local authorities.
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