NHAI Seeks Special Bench to Review Nationwide Stray‑Animal Shelter Mandate

In a fresh legal filing, the National Highways Authority of India has asked the Supreme Court to set up a special bench to reconsider its order to build shelter homes for stray cattle throughout the nation. The agency points out that the estimated cost of ₹7,000 crore makes the directive impractical at a central level.

The petition, lodged by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, urges that district‑level administrations take charge of shelter construction and management, citing better local oversight. It specifically seeks the appointment of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and Sanjay Kumar to adjudicate the issue.

The request builds on a November 2025 Supreme Court order that mandated the removal of stray animals from highways and their relocation to adequate shelters, a move that also recognized the escalating stray dog problem in the country.