Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Supreme Court to Form Special Bench on Stray Cattle Shelters
The Supreme Court agreed to create a special group of judges to hear a case about stray cattle shelters.
A previous court direction told the National Highways Authority of India to build shelters across the country.
The Authority disagrees with that responsibility.
It says local district administrations should handle the shelters instead.
The Authority also says the work could cost about Rs 7,000 crore.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta asked for the special bench to be formed again.
Chief Justice Surya Kant said the court would constitute it.
The case is part of larger hearings about managing stray dogs and cattle.
The Supreme Court agreed to constitute a special bench to hear the National Highways Authority of India’s challenge.
A prior direction asked the NHAI to establish shelters for stray cattle across the country.
The NHAI said the responsibility should belong to local district-level administrations, not the Authority.
The NHAI estimated that complying with the direction could cost approximately Rs 7,000 crore.
The issue arose during hearings on managing stray dogs and cattle and assigning responsibilities to government authorities.
- Who
- The National Highways Authority of India, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, and the Supreme Court.
- What
- The Supreme Court agreed to constitute a special bench to hear the NHAI’s plea against a direction to build shelters for stray cattle.
- When
- Monday, September 21; the year is not specified in the report.
- Where
- The matter was heard in New Delhi by the Supreme Court.
- Why
- The NHAI argues that local district-level administrations, rather than the Authority, should establish the shelters and says the work could cost approximately Rs 7,000 crore.
NHAI’s Position
Court Direction
Who should build the shelters?
NHAI’s Position
The National Highways Authority of India says shelters should be established by local district-level administrations because it cannot carry out the work across the entire country.
Court Direction
A prior direction from a special bench required the NHAI to establish shelters for stray cattle across the country.
Financial responsibility
NHAI’s Position
The NHAI says complying with the nationwide direction would involve expenditure of approximately Rs 7,000 crore.
Court Direction
The direction, as described in the report, assigns the nationwide shelter-building responsibility to the NHAI; the court’s final position will be considered by the special bench.
- Applicant
- National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Issue
- A direction to establish shelters for stray cattle nationwide
- NHAI’s position
- Local district-level administrations should handle the shelters
- Estimated expenditure
- Approximately Rs 7,000 crore
- Requested action
- Reconstitution of the special bench to hear the NHAI application
- Related proceedings
- Hearings concerning stray dogs, stray cattle and government responsibilities