A woman from Delhi has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court seeking ₹20 lakh in compensation from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) after she was attacked by a group of stray dogs earlier this year. The woman, identified as Priyanka Rai, said the attack left her with serious physical injuries, emotional trauma, and financial loss.

The incident took place in March 2025 when Priyanka was riding as a pillion passenger on a motorcycle near Khirki Village Road in South Delhi’s Malviya Nagar. According to her petition, a pack of stray dogs suddenly attacked her, leaving her with multiple wounds and bite marks. She said the injuries not only caused her immense pain but also led to emotional distress and medical expenses.

In her plea, Priyanka has referred to a 2023 judgment by the Punjab and Haryana High Court that laid out a formula for calculating compensation in dog bite cases. The formula considers factors such as the size of the wounds and the number of tooth marks left by the dogs.

According to this formula, Priyanka has demanded ₹12 lakh for a total wound area of 12 cm, as the High Court had suggested ₹20,000 for every 0.2 cm of wound. Also, she has sought ₹4.2 lakh for the tooth marks on her body, claiming that the attack involved the use of all 42 teeth of the dog. She has also requested ₹3.8 lakh for emotional trauma, bringing her total claim to ₹20 lakh.

The Delhi High Court had earlier issued a notice to the MCD in May this year and recently granted the corporation more time to respond. The case is still pending.

The 2023 Punjab and Haryana High Court order, which Priyanka cited, was given in response to 193 petitions related to dog and animal attacks. It also directed state authorities to provide compensation in similar cases involving stray cattle and other animals. The court had ordered that such compensation be decided and awarded within four months of filing a claim.