Bombay High Court orders residential society to take action against security guards using sticks to scare dogs

The Bombay High Court on Monday directed a residential society in Mumbai to entertain complaints by members against security guards who use sticks to scare, threaten or injure animals..A bench of Justices GS Kulkarni and RN Laddha directed the society to take action on such such complaints since using sticks on animals would amount to cruelty against them."Insofar as the Security Guards causing any scare/threat to the animals by using sticks is concerned, we direct the society to entertain complaints from the petitioner and other members of the society in this regard, so that appropriate action can be taken against such Security Guards who are indulging in such actions. This would be necessary as we are of the clear opinion that such coercive methods would certainly amount to an act of cruelty to the animals. This apart, such methods being used by the Security Guards or any other persons would aggravate the behavior of the animals, apart from inflicting cruelty to the animals," the High Court said..The Court was considering the plea filed by one Paromita Puthran, resident of a society, RNA Royale Park CHSL, over a dispute regarding areas to be designated in the society for feeding stray dogs.Puthran sought a designated feeding areas in housing society for stray dogs claiming the society was not willing to do so and was also disallowing her from feeding the dogs..On the directions of the High Court, one Abodh Aras, Chief Executive Officer of the organization “The Welfare of Stray Dogs” visited the society and prepared a report on the areas that can be used for feeding stray dogs.Based on the report, the society and Puthran agreed to reconsider the areas and reach an amicable resolution to designate appropriate feeding areas. .Puthran also offered to provide drinking water to the dogs. The Court urged the society to accept this offer."The parties need to amicably resolve the dispute as it should not be that drinking water is not provided to the dogs. It would be an obligation of the residents of the society to always make provision for adequate water to be made available to the animals more particularly considering the onset of the summer season," the bench held. .Puthran had also claimed that certain bouncers had been appointed for keeping out dogs from the society compound. The society assured the court that these were merely security guards.The bench then disposed of the petition while granting liberty to the petitioner to initiate appropriate proceedings with regard to illegality if any, committed by such security personnel..[Read order]