Frivolous fights between dogs owners and neighbours clogging up courts: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday lamented that courts are being clogged up by frivolous squabbles that are tied to dog owners who do not properly take care of or clean up after their dogs [Abhishek H v The State by Amruthahally Police Station].

Justice M Nagaprasanna made the observation while staying a criminal case arising out of an alleged physical altercation between neighbours over a pet dog littering the doorstep of a neighbour's house.

“It is surprising as to how the dog owners are letting the dogs without taking care of them and creating problems of this nature which are clogging the criminal courts on frivolous points. Therefore, there shall be an interim order of stay of all further proceedings, investigation in crime number ... until next date of hearing," the Court said.

The petition was filed by four family members, who claimed that their neighbour had let his dog litter their doorstep. The petitioners objected to this. A fight broke out, where the dog owner is alleged to have assaulted the petitioners using a stone and a bracelet, causing injuries to one of the petitioners, who was taken to the hospital. The incident took place on December 29, 2025.

A criminal case was registered against the dog owner. Thereafter, a counter-complaint was filed by the dog owner against the petitioners, accusing them of assaulting, hurting, and insulting the dog owner with the intent to breach the peace. The petitioners then moved the High Court with a plea to quash this case, which has now been stayed by the Court. The case is listed for further hearing on February 13.

The petition was filed through Advocate Prithveesh MK.

Justice Nagaprasanna was called to examine a similar case a day earlier as well, on February 3, where a dog owner and two of her family members were booked in a criminal case.

In that case, some neighbours got into a spat with the dog's owners and allegedly assaulted them, claiming that they frequently let their dog roam around in an apartment complex and defecate in public spaces. The petitioners filed a criminal case complaining of the attacks they faced. A neighbour too filed another criminal case accusing the dog owners of various offences such as hurt and assault. The petitioners have argued that this was a counter-blast case, in their plea to quash the criminal proceedings against them.

"Who let the dogs out?" remarked Justice Nagaprasanna in a lighter vein during Tuesday's hearing of the matter.

After hearing preliminary submissions by Senior Advocate Jayna Kothari, for the petitioners, the Court stayed the criminal case against them as well.

"Don't take your dog anywhere now," Justice Nagaprasanna advised before adjourning the matter.

The petition in this case was filed through Advocate Bola Vedvyas Shenoy.