Woman Claims Rs 20 Lakh Compensation for Stray Dog Attack: A Detailed Breakdown of Her Legal Case

The Delhi High Court has requested a response from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi regarding a significant compensation claim.

A woman has filed for Rs 20 lakh compensation from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) after suffering a vicious attack by multiple stray dogs. The claim covers her physical injuries, emotional distress, and financial burden resulting from the incident.

In her petition to the Delhi High Court, Priyanka Rai detailed that she was attacked while riding as a passenger on a motorcycle in the vicinity of Khirki Village Road in South Delhi's Malviya Nagar during March this year.

Her compensation request follows a formula established by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2023, which outlined specific factors for determining appropriate relief amounts in dog bite cases. The formula considers elements such as the number of teeth marks and whether flesh was torn from the victim's skin.

In her detailed breakdown, Rai is requesting Rs 12 lakh for wounds covering a total area of 12 cm, as the High Court previously established a rate of Rs 20,000 per 0.2 cm of wound area. She has additionally claimed Rs 4.2 lakh calculated at Rs 10,000 per tooth mark, stating that the attack "involved the use of all 42 teeth of the dog."

Rai has further requested Rs 3.8 lakh as compensation specifically for the trauma she experienced, bringing her total claim to Rs 20 lakh.

The High Court initially issued a notice to the MCD in May regarding this matter and has recently granted the corporation additional time to provide its response by October 29.

The compensation formula originated from a 2023 order by Justice Vinod S Bhardwaj of the High Court, which was issued in response to 193 writ petitions related to dog bites and similar animal attacks.

This High Court order also directed authorities in Punjab, Haryana, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh to establish methods for calculating compensation for accidents caused by various stray animals including cattle, dogs, nilgai, and buffaloes, as well as wild and pet animals.

The court has mandated that compensation awards must be processed within four months of claims being filed.