The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) filed a petition with the Supreme Court on Monday, seeking to be exempted from the judicial obligation to create infrastructure for housing stray cattle and animals along the network of 72,000 kilometers of national highways. These animals are increasingly causing road accidents.
General Counsel Tushar Mehta requested an urgent hearing on NHAI's application. He asked that the case be heard by a special bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath, who had previously mandated NHAI to coordinate with states on removing stray animals and placing them in shelters across India near the highways.
Tushar Mehta stated that no law imposes such responsibility on NHAI, nor does the organization have the experience to establish shelters across the entire 72,000 km stretch, and furthermore, it would impose an additional financial burden of 7,000 crore rupees for the creation and management of these facilities.