New Delhi: It is not mandated to handle stray cattle and other animals on highways and expressways, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) informed the Supreme Court on Monday, seeking clarity on a May 19 judgement.
In that judgement, NHAI was directed to put in place a mechanism to deal with stray cattle and other animals on national highways and expressways.
The matter was mentioned by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant for urgent listing.
The CJI agreed to place it before the special Bench that had passed the original directions, as reported by ANI.
The primary statutory responsibility for removing, impounding and sheltering stray animals lies with State authorities, local bodies and designated Highway Administrations, and does not independently fall on it, the NHAI has said.
The Court, on May 19, had asked NHAI to coordinate with states and Union Territories and put in place measures including specialised vehicles, holding facilities, shelters and arrangements with animal welfare organisations and gaushalas (cow shelters).
Its statutory mandate under the National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988 and the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002 primarily concerns the development, maintenance and management of highways, the NHAI has contended.
It has also pointed to Section 37 of the 2002 Act, which provides for removal and detention of animals causing obstruction on highways.
District magistrates were notified as highway administrations for relevant stretches in October 2025 and are therefore the primary field authorities under the statutory framework, the NHAI has said.
It is willing to coordinate and facilitate the removal and transportation of stray animals and work with states, local bodies and gaushalas, but should not be required to independently establish or operate shelters, gaushalas or transport fleets across the country’s national highway network, the authority has said.
NHAI has also cited the scale of the highway network – around 1.46 lakh kilometres – and said creating shelters across it would require substantial specialised infrastructure, manpower and funding beyond its existing statutory and budgetary mandate.