Mumbai (IANS) | In a humane touch, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday termed cruelty and hatred towards stray dogs as unacceptable and cautioned that such cruelty would be against the constitutional ethos and statutory provisions. Justice Girish Kulkarni and Justice R.N. Ladda was hearing a petition filed by a dog-lover of the Mumbai Co-operative Housing Society, alleging cruelty to 18 stray dogs as its management committee was unwilling to provide designated feeding space to feed them and used bouncers. Was threatened
The bench referred to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Animal Birth Control Rules and said that it would be the duty of all society members to abide by them and prevent any kind of torture or cruelty to animals or people willing to take care of them. Avoid It also directed the society management to inform it about the designated (eating) place as well as other welfare measures for the dogs by April 6, when the matter will come up for hearing again.
The directions came in a petition filed through advocate Nishad Navgi by animal lover Paromita Purthan, a resident of RNA Royale Park CHS in Kandivali West, where she was feeding 18 stray dogs. Purathan informed the court about the management committee’s resolution dated November 13, 2022, allowing dogs to be fed at a designated place, but the society had not allotted feeding space in the sprawling premises.
Cautioning the society and all its members, the bench said: Hating stray dogs and/or treating them cruelly can never be an acceptable attitude of individuals in a civilized society, acts of cruelty to such animals violate the constitutional ethos. And would be against the statutory provisions.
It asked the society’s advocate Vibha Mishra to inform the court of the specified venue and welfare measures to help these animals and further their cause so that they are taken care of and their rights are protected in the spirit of the laws. can be preserved. The petitioner had pointed out how he was not being allowed to feed the dogs, provide water to them, was not being given a designated feeding spot within the society premises spread over a vast area, and was not allowed to feed the dogs at the society gates. where they were at risk of accidents and possible death.
Noting that these dogs have a territorial connection with the Society, Justice Kulkarni and Justice Ladda also cited examples of lawyers or judges who take care of several stray dogs and cats in the High Court premises, and former judges who are stray dogs. How did you take biscuits with you for
The judges said that animals are also living beings and are a part of our society and we have to take care of them, while taking a jibe at how non-cooperation happens in a cooperative society. The court directed the society and the petitioner to resolve the issues amicably and listed the matter for further hearing on April 6, as long as Purthan can continue to feed stray dogs in the society’s parking area.
–IANS
