If an animal cause damage to a person or property, the owner or the concerned agencies will be liable for compensation. This is one of the recommendations of the Legislative Committee of the National Council for the Civil Liability Bill. Also known as the Law of Tort, this will ensure that harm or injury as a result of negligence, poor quality of materials, and failure to carry out timely inspection among others are properly compensated. The law is currently in the drafting stage.
According to the legislative committee, one of the major issues faced by many, particularly in the urban areas today is the harm and nuisance caused by stray and pet dogs. And so far, no laws in the country hold the concerned accountable and responsible.
According to the Dy. Chairperson of the committee, Ugyen Tshering, this law will recognise concerned agencies and make them responsible for nuisance and damages.
“Regarding pet dogs, the owner will be liable. After owners lock their dogs up, the animal creates a nuisance to residents in the same building and the area. So the responsibility will fall on the owners,” he said.
With over 100,000 dog population in the country, cases of dog bites have been on the rise. In 2020 alone, nearly 6,500 dog bites were recorded in the country.
While stray dog menace remains to be one of the issues everywhere, the Member of Parliament of Thimphu, Tshewang Rinzin, said imposing such a law could discourage people to adopt and raise stray dogs.
“I feel the law should be made after considering the situations. Just because it is done in other countries, the same can’t be applied elsewhere,” he said.
If adopted, the law will also address issues related to menace by livestock and the failure of owners to take care of them.
Meanwhile, the committee also recommended the inclusion of concerns such as child abuse, breach of duties, sexual harassment, providing liability protection to volunteers, food donors, and liability for professional negligence among others.
Samten Dolkar
Edited by Chayku
