Who Will Pay ₹7,000 Crore? NHAI Takes Stray Cattle Shelter Order To Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to constitute a special bench to hear the National Highways Authority of India’s (NHAI) challenge to a direction requiring it to establish shelters for stray cattle across the country, a measure the highway authority estimates could cost around ₹7,000 crore.

The issue was raised before a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the NHAI.

The dispute arises from a larger Supreme Court proceeding concerning the management of stray dogs and cattle and the responsibilities of government authorities. The Court has been examining the problem of stray animals on roads and highways, particularly the danger they pose to motorists and the need for authorities to prevent accidents.

In earlier directions, the Court required authorities to remove stray cattle and other animals from highways and relocate them to designated shelters or gaushalas, where they would receive food, water and veterinary care. The directions involved several agencies, including local administrations, police, road authorities and the NHAI.

The NHAI has now challenged the direction requiring it to establish shelters on a nationwide basis. Mehta told the court that local district-level administrations, rather than the highway authority, should be responsible for setting up such facilities.

“Our case is that it should be done by the local district-level administration. We cannot do it pan India,” the Solicitor General said.

The NHAI estimates that implementing the shelter requirement across the country would involve expenditure of approximately ₹7,000 crore. The authority has questioned whether such a large nationwide animal-management responsibility falls within its mandate.

Mehta also sought reconstitution of the earlier special bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria to hear the NHAI’s application. He said a special bench could not be constituted without a specific direction from the Chief Justice. “We will constitute,” the CJI said.

The forthcoming hearing will examine the NHAI’s objections and the division of responsibility between the highway authority and local administrations in implementing the Court’s directions on stray cattle.