Kochi: The Kerala high court has reiterated that panchayats are duty bound to take measures to prevent the danger of stray dogs biting citizens from within its territory.
The court asked Porathissery Grama Panchayat of Thrissur district to pay an amount of Rs 30,000 to one Antony of Mapranam who suffered a dog bite. The court asked the panchayat to pay Rs 15,000 towards treatment expenses and Rs 15,000 towards compensation for mental agony, pain and suffering.
Justice A. Hariprasad upheld the order of Principal munsif's court, Irinjalakkuda. The principal munsif court refused to accept the contentions and asked the panchayat to compensate the victim. The panchayat challenged the same before Kerala high court.
Antony, who was a porter in the Food Corporation of India, Angamaly had suffered a dog bite on June 18, 2003. He was admitted to the Mulankunnathukavu Medical College, Thrissur.
Antony contended that it was the mandatory duty of the grama panchayat to render help to the inhabitants of the panchayat as per the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act.
He further argued that the panchayat did not do anything to fulfill the mandatory duties cast on it. Panchayat took a stand and decided to pay Rs 500 as assistance for the medical aid.
The panchayat also requested the government for financial assistance but the government failed to give any assistance to the panchayat. Considering the contentions the court observed, “I find no reason to interfere with the finding of the lower court.”
