Shimla: Himachal Pradesh high court has sought details on steps taken by state govt to prevent stray cattle from roaming on roads, observing that the govt’s affidavit was silent on how the problem would be addressed.According to govt’s data, Himachal Pradesh has 216 cow sanctuaries or gau sadans run by it as well as NGOs, housing 21,699 stray animals. Una has the highest at 37, accommodating 3,705 cattle, followed by Shimla (34) with 2,444 animals and Hamirpur (28) accommodating 2,350 animals. However, tribal districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti lack a single gau sadan.A division bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin Chander Negi, during the resumed hearing of a bunch of public interest litigations, was informed that a census of stray cattle and domestic livestock had been uploaded on central govt‘s portal according to the information conveyed to the state govt in Oct 2024.The court was informed that the state govt has also directed that every cow or cattle housed in gau sadans be tagged with the number linked to software for digital monitoring through a web portal. The court was further informed that the Jawalaji Temple Trust in Kangra district took over the functioning of the cow sanctuary at Luthan on Sept 22, 2025. The amicus curiae told the court that the sanctuary has space for around 400 cattle and suggested opening another sanctuary near Mata Chintpurni Temple in Una district or within a 20 km radius. The trust could take responsibility for running the facility, he suggested.The bench noted that the state govt’s affidavit did not disclose what steps had been taken to reduce the number of cattle on roads. The state govt counsel sought time to obtain instructions and examine the suggestions made by the amicus curiae. The matter is now listed for Nov 16.
