Stray Dogs on Chhattisgarh College Campuses: Professors to Act as Nodal Officers, Higher Education Dept Issues Strict Order

Raipur

The Chhattisgarh Higher Education Department has implemented strict new guidelines for the monitoring and control of stray dogs on the campuses of all state-run and private colleges and universities. This move follows similar directives for school premises.

The department has issued a comprehensive 13-point order, making the respective institutions directly responsible for the control, supervision, and prevention of potential incidents caused by stray animals on their premises.

Faculty to be Nodal Officers

As per the order, every college and university must appoint a Nodal Officer—a Professor or Assistant Professor—to oversee the implementation of these rules.

The Nodal Officer will maintain continuous contact and coordination with local authorities, including the Municipal Corporation and Municipal Council.

They must immediately contact the concerned department to remove any stray dogs or other animals found on the campus.

The department has also appointed Dr. T. Jalaja Nair as the state-level Nodal Officer. All institutional nodal officers across the state will report directly to her.

Monitoring and Awareness

Institutions are required to prominently display the Nodal Officer’s name, mobile number, and a helpline number on a display board. The institutional Nodal Officers must send a photograph of this display board to the Higher Education Directorate via WhatsApp to ensure compliance.

Further Directives Include:

• Food Management: College and university faculty must monitor the premises to ensure no food materials that could attract stray animals are left in the open. Continuous monitoring will be carried out to restrict and control the entry of stray animals.
• First Aid and Awareness: The availability of a First Aid Box is mandatory in every institution. Awareness programmes must be conducted for students and staff on preventive measures against stray dogs and appropriate actions in emergency situations. Institutions must also organise workshops with the help of the Animal Husbandry and Health Department.
• Physical Security: The department has directed campuses to strengthen and secure boundary walls wherever possible to prevent the entry of stray animals.

The order, issued by the Commissioner, Higher Education Office, Naya Raipur, states that these actions comply with the directions given in the Supreme Court’s ongoing Suo Moto Writ Petition (Civil) No. 05/2025.