Himachal Pradesh High Court Demands Urgent Action Plan to Remove Stray Cattle from Roadways

The judicial bench criticized municipal and rural development departments for dereliction of duty regarding animal husbandry management and highway safety enforcement. Statistical reports submitted to the court revealed a sharp uptick in vehicular accidents and severe injuries resulting from sudden collisions with livestock on blind mountain curves. Local administration officials cited severe shortages of functional shelter infrastructure and insufficient budgetary allocations for cattle impoundment. The court mandated the immediate establishment of temporary holding pens and ordered district commissioners to coordinate round-the-clock clearance patrols along major tourist arteries. Animal welfare organizations welcomed the focus on animal safety while cautioning against cruel handling practices during municipal roundups. Transport unions threatened coordinated strikes unless highway visibility and livestock containment measures were implemented immediately. Downstream effects include accelerated construction of regional cattle sanctuaries funded through redirected municipal revenues. Highway transit safety will improve incrementally as enforcement teams maintain continuous sweeps along high-risk mountain corridors.