PRAYAGRAJ (26 February 2026) — The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh state authorities to provide an immediate update on the measures taken under existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to mitigate the escalating “monkey menace.” A division bench comprising Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Kunal Ravi Singh issued the directive during a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that highlighted the severe human-animal conflict in districts like Ghaziabad and Mathura.
Judicial Mandate and Administrative Delays
The court expressed a firm need for documented action, requiring the state to file an affidavit detailing the steps taken by district-level committees. This follows an earlier order from January 13, which had tasked the Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Department with drafting a comprehensive work plan.
Significant points from the hearing include:
- One-Year Timeline: Additional Advocate General Manish Goel submitted that a “scientific and systematic field survey” to assess the population of rhesus macaques and map conflict hotspots would require at least one year to complete.
- Immediate Measures: Until a new baseline is established, the state will rely on the existing SOP titled “Instructions Regarding the Capture, Transportation, and Release of Monkeys” and a tentative plan suggested by the Animal Welfare Board of India.
- High-Power Committee: A committee has already been constituted to oversee the survey and the implementation of management strategies.
Concerns Raised in the PIL
The petition, filed by Vineet Sharma and another Ghaziabad resident, paints a grim picture of urban and rural life disrupted by large groups of monkeys, sometimes numbering over 200.
The counsel for the petitioners, Akash Vashishtha and Pawan Tiwari, presented evidence of:
- Violent Attacks: Documented incidents across Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Sitapur, Bareilly, and Agra.
- Economic Loss: Widespread crop destruction and disruption of school activities.
- Animal Welfare: Rising hunger and starvation among the monkey populations due to shrinking natural habitats, leading to “inhuman conditions” for the animals.
Legal and Statutory Framework
The bench emphasized that municipal authorities cannot abdicate their responsibilities under the Uttar Pradesh Municipal Corporations Act, 1959. In previous sessions, the court had criticized the “blame-shifting” between departments, noting that while the problem is acknowledged by all, accountability has been scarce.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for April 6, 2026, by which time the state must apprise the bench of the specific actions undertaken in Ghaziabad and Mathura, alongside an action plan for the remaining districts.
Sources
- The Week: “Allahabad HC directs authorities to apprise it of measures taken to tackle monkey menace” (27 February 2026)
- Hindustan Times: “Need a year for plan on human monkey conflict: UP Govt tells High Court” (27 February 2026)
- Oneindia: “Monkey menace: Allahabad High Court seeks SOP action update for Ghaziabad and Mathura” (27 February 2026)
- Devdiscourse: “Court Demands Action on Monkey Menace in Ghaziabad and Mathura” (27 February 2026)
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