In an interim relief to an animal lover, who was allegedly being harassed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the housing society members for having 12 stray dogs inside her house, the Bombay High Court on Thursday directed authorities to maintain status quo until further order. This means the pet lover can keep her dogs with her.
The woman, Durga Rai, has sheltered the dogs at her house at Ascent Housing Society in Andheri, where she lives with her 80-year-old mother. She has alleged that the society members and the municipal corporation have been harassing her and her mother and have also been attacking the dogs.
A division bench of justices P V Hardas and PN Deshmukh directed that the civic body allow Rai to keep the dogs in her house after she pays the required taxes. The bench also ordered the corporation and the housing society not to take away the dogs until the court decides the matter.
The relief was granted as a similar matter was pending before the Supreme Court. In view of this, the high court has adjourned the matter till November 25.
Rai had moved court after members of her housing society complained to the civic body that they were facing a nuisance because the dogs were kept in the flat. It was alleged that the place where the dogs had been confined was unclean and a foul smell emanated from there.
The BMC, in turn, approached the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and asked it to visit the flat and inspect the premises. However, when its members went to the house, they were not allowed to come in. Previously a court-appointed commissioner had reported that 12 dogs were found in the house which was found unclean.
High court breather
Andheri resident Durga Rai had gone to court, alleging that members of her housing society and the civic body were harassing her for having sheltered 12 stray dogs in her house.
In an interim order, the high court has directed the civic body to keep the dogs in her house after she pays required taxes.
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