Supreme Court Awards ₹15 Lakh Compensation in Stray Bull Death Case, Calls for National Framework

The Supreme Court has awarded ₹15 lakh compensation to the widow of a man killed by a stray bull in 2007, while directing the Union and State Governments to establish a comprehensive framework addressing bovine-related fatalities. A Division Bench held that after nearly two decades, relegating the claimant to civil remedies would be unjust and inequitable.

Citing government data, the Court noted that animal attacks killed 1,130 persons in 2018, 1,425 in 2019, and 1,305 in 2020 across India. The bench recommended implementation of cattle laws, development of compensation mechanisms for such accidents, mandatory animal tagging, and strengthening of animal shelter management.

The appeal challenged a Punjab and Haryana High Court decision that had set aside an earlier ₹29.32 lakh compensation award, directing the claimant to pursue civil remedies instead.