Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) has taken a note of non-compliance of directives of the Supreme Court on part of Central Railway’s Nagpur Division pertaining to appointing Nodal officers to deal with stray dog menace at Railway stations and colonies. The Commission accepted the complaint filed by Ashok Katre, retd Movement Inspector, Central Railway, who cited the RTI replies on part of Senior Divisional Operations Manager (Sr DoM) as to non-appointment of nodal officers.

 

Katre pointed out to the Commission the dichotomy in replies, one filed by Additional Divisional Railway Manager, A K Pingle, with NHRC, and the RTI reply by Sr DoM Krishnath Patil. MSHRC has noted the complaint submitted by Katre and allotted it case no. 6323/13/17/2026 and would take up the proceedings at a later stage. Katre said contrary to Nagpur Division, the Mumbai Division has taken the directives issued by Railway Board and Apex Court and notified Station Masters at 128 stations at Nodal Officers on handling stray dogs issue. Similarly, the Mumbai Division has publicly put on display the names, the numbers and designation of Nodal Officers. Whereas the Nagpur Division lags, in a way Katre claimed they are in contempt of Apex Court. While the Supreme Court issued directions relating to stray dog menace at Railway stations and in Railway colonies on May 19, 2026, the CR’s Nagpur Division submitted its reply on July 31, 2026, claiming to have complained, whereas Katre said on ground, the intention seems to be missing. He further informed about filing a contempt plea with Bombay High Court’s Nagpur Bench plus Jabalpur Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court as to default on part of CR’s Nagpur Division officials. Katre also claimed that sensing impending action, the division officials swung into action and distributed rabies injection, where the same was to be done post Supreme Court directives.

 

The Station Master he said have been told not to sign on backdated about receipt of anti-rabies shots or they might also face court rap. Katre also submitted photographic evidence of stray dogs roaming freely at Betul, Amla and Maramzari Railway stations in Nagpur Division of Central Railway. Presence of stray dogs, he said, is a threat to safety of travellers. In the past, an NGO working for travellers’ cause has time and against raised the issue of presence of stray dogs in Nagpur Railway Station. However, the Railway administration seemed helpless in tackling movement of stray dogs, given the open ended condition of the railway station. Further, the station is surrounded by eateries and hence the street dogs get attract to it and from there they enter platforms.