In a significant judgment addressing the growing problem of stray cattle on public roads, the Supreme Court on Friday restored compensation to the widow of a man who suffered fatal consequences after being attacked by a stray bull in Punjab. The Court held that forcing the family to pursue a civil suit nearly two decades after the incident would leave them without an effective remedy. At the same time, the Bench called upon the Centre and States to strengthen systems for preventing cattle-related accidents and compensating victims.
The judgment was delivered by a Bench of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh in an appeal filed by Nisha against the Municipal Council, Sangrur & Others.
Background of the Case
The dispute arose from an incident on 21 September 2007, when Vijay Kumar was walking on a road in Sangrur and was allegedly attacked by a stray bull, suffering a serious head injury. The incident was reported to the police, and despite representations seeking compensation, no relief was granted.
After Vijay Kumar's death, his widow approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court. A Single Judge awarded compensation of ₹29.32 lakh with interest by applying principles used in motor accident compensation cases. However, a Division Bench later set aside that decision, holding that disputed questions of fact made the writ petition unsuitable and directing the family to seek relief before a civil court.
Court's Observations
The Supreme Court disagreed with the High Court's approach. It noted that the writ petition had remained pending for years and that asking the family to begin fresh civil proceedings after such a long delay would effectively deprive them of any meaningful remedy.
The Bench observed,
“Now, after such a long time… where does that leave the claimants? The simple answer is, remediless.”
The Court further found that the occurrence of the incident had never been seriously disputed by the authorities. It also remarked that accidents involving stray cattle are no longer isolated incidents but a recurring public safety concern affecting both pedestrians and motorists.
Highlighting the constitutional framework, the Bench referred to the State's responsibility towards animal welfare while simultaneously stressing that citizens cannot be exposed to avoidable risks because cattle are left roaming on roads.
It observed that animals are “not meant to be natural speed breakers” on highways and public streets.
Compensation and Larger Directions
While the Supreme Court held that the Motor Vehicles Act formula cannot automatically be applied in every stray-animal compensation case, it recognised that the family had waited for justice for nearly two decades.
Considering the prolonged litigation, the nature of the injuries and the facts of the case, the Court awarded a lump sum compensation of ₹15 lakh, directing that the amount be paid within four weeks. The Bench clarified that the order was passed in the peculiar facts of the case and should not be treated as a precedent.
The Court also took note of Punjab's later municipal bye-laws providing compensation for deaths and disabilities caused by stray cattle but observed that those provisions were not applicable to the present case because the incident predated them.
Decision
Apart from granting relief to the appellant, the Supreme Court issued a series of recommendations to the Centre and State Governments. These include effective implementation of cattle-related laws, creation of compensation mechanisms for victims of bovine-related accidents, mandatory tagging of cattle, improved animal shelters, and appointment of nodal officers to oversee implementation. The Court directed that a copy of the judgment be sent to all Chief Secretaries of States, Administrators of Union Territories and State Legal Services Authorities for appropriate action.
The appeal was allowed, with no order as to costs.
Case Details
Case Title: Nisha v. Municipal Council Sangrur & Ors.
Case Number: Civil Appeal arising out of SLP (C) No. 4663 of 2026
Judges: Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh
Decision Date: 31 July 2026
