SC forms panel to look into Kerala dog bite plaints

The Supreme Court on Tuesday constituted a three-member panel, headed by a former Kerala high court judge, to look into complaints of dog bites in the state and availability of necessary medical treatment to the injured.

A Bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh constituted the panel, consisting of former Kerala high court jidge Justice Siri Jaga, Secretary of the state’s Law Department and its Director of Health Services. The court said the committee would identify the hospitals, where the anti-rabies vaccines were being administered to the canines for free.

“The committee shall entertain the complaints with regard to the injuries sustained by the persons in case of a dog bite, the nature and gravity of the injury, availability of medicines and the treatment administered to them, the failure of treatment and its cure and in case of unfortunate death, the particulars of the deceased and the reasons behind the same. The committee shall also identify the centres/hospitals where the anti-rabies vaccines are available free of charge,” it said.

It added that after receiving the findings of the committee, the court would decide the issue of granting of compensation or making certain arrangements for the victims.

The order came on a plea filed by one Jos Sebastian whose wife was killed after she was bit by a stray dog.