Bombay high court officer to visit stray dog lover’s home

The Bombay high court (HC) on Monday appointed a court officer to accompany officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for their visit to the house of activist and dog lover, Durga Rai who has kept 20 stray dogs at her Meghwadi residence.

The officer will a report to the HC before February 15, outlining issues like hygiene, and complaints of other society members with regard to the nuisance caused by the dogs.

A division bench of justice VM Kanade and justice Rajesh Ketkar observed: “The efforts carried out by the petitioner are laudable. However, it should not happen that some diseases are spread due to the dogs in the society, and for that the BMC should be allowed to verify facts.”

 BMC counsel Suresh Pakle said, “It is highly impossible to keep 20 dogs in a 500 square feet room. Thus we want to verify the complaints but we are not being allowed to enter the premises.”

Advocate Ahmed Abdi, appearing for Rai, said, “The petitioner works till late in the evening and is not available at home. Her mother is 85 years old and stays with the dogs along with two persons who take care of the dogs. As per the previous order of January 27, the high court had restrained the BMC from taking any coercive action, so why are the officials issuing a notice?”