Indiranagar pet owner must face trial after dog allegedly bites woman on face

The Karnataka High Court has refused to quash a criminal case against an Indiranagar resident whose pet dog allegedly bit another woman on the face. Justice M Nagaprasanna declined to interfere with the proceedings, stressing that pet owners have a strict duty to ensure public safety and keep their animals under proper control.

The petitioner, Lalitha Gopalakrishnan of Indiranagar, had approached the High Court seeking to set aside the FIR and criminal case registered against her. The case was originally registered by the Indiranagar Police under Section 291 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with negligent conduct with respect to animals.

During the hearing, Justice Nagaprasanna observed that pet owners cannot escape liability if they fail to control their dogs and such negligence results in injuries to others. The Court noted that allowing a pet dog to remain unrestrained amounts to irresponsible conduct. It added that allegations of this nature must be examined during a trial rather than being dismissed at the threshold.

The police have already completed their investigation into the incident and filed a charge sheet in the matter. In light of the completed investigation, the High Court pointed out that Gopalakrishnan was at liberty to seek a discharge before the trial court if she believed there was insufficient material to proceed against her. Following these observations by the Court, the petition was subsequently withdrawn.

Gopalakrishnan’s counsel argued during the hearing that the medical records and the spot inspection report did not establish any visible injuries caused by the dog. The defence further contended that the complainant was familiar with the pet, had voluntarily approached it, and that the dog belonged to a non-aggressive breed. Additionally, the defence alleged that the complaint had been lodged with the sole intention of claiming monetary compensation.

With the High Court declining to intervene, the criminal proceedings against the Indiranagar resident will continue before the jurisdictional trial court.