Meeting of Chandigarh Stray Animal Accident Compensation Committee

The Chandigarh Stray Animal Incident/Accident Compensation Committee met under the chairmanship of Nishant Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner, UT Chandigarh, to review and expedite compensation cases for victims of stray animal incidents. A total of 146 cases were reviewed during the meeting, with 106 cases approved for compensation. The remaining cases were put on hold for further examination to ensure a fair assessment of damages. The committee stressed the need for a transparent and efficient compensation process in accordance with policy guidelines. Senior officials from the police department, MC, and health department provided inputs on streamlining the process and addressing concerns related to stray animal incidents.

The committee, notified by the UT Department of Local Government as per a July 2, 2024, notification, follows the compensation policy set by the state of Punjab. According to the High Court order, in case of death, legal heirs of the deceased are entitled to compensation of ₹5 lakh. For permanent incapacitation, certified by a competent medical authority, the compensation amount is ₹2 lakh. In cases of injury, the compensation amount will be assessed by the committee, up to a maximum of ₹2 lakh. For dog bite cases, specific criteria are considered, with a minimum compensation of ₹10,000 per teeth mark. Where flesh has been pulled off the skin, a minimum of ₹20,000 per 10.2 square cm of the wound is to be paid, subject to a maximum limit of ₹2 lakh.

For cases involving death due to stray animal accidents, a copy of the death certificate and an FIR or DDR indicating the cause of death is required. In cases of permanent disability, documents such as the DDR, medical certificate, and hospital discharge summary must be provided. To simplify the application process, the National Informatics Centre (NIC) has been tasked with developing an online portal for receiving applications and processing compensation. Until the portal becomes operational, manual applications will continue to be accepted at the MC office in Sector 17.