85 dogs on MU campus going hungry since August 25

In a letter to the university vice-chancellor on Sunday, Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena secretary Nitin Nanavare alleged that even a nonprofit which regularly provided food to the dogs has been stopped from entering the campus

Mumbai: Around 85 dogs living on the 280-acre Kalina campus of the University of Mumbai have been going hungry for the past 10 days as the university administration has prevented dog-feeders from entering the campus and feeding the strays, according to a complaint filed by Nitin Nanavare, secretary of the Maharashtra state unit of the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena.

Photo for representation (HT PHOTO)

In a letter to the university vice-chancellor on Sunday, Nanavare alleged that even a nonprofit which regularly provided food to the dogs has been stopped from entering the campus. “This is not just an administrative mistake but a serious and inhuman issue,” he stated in the complaint, copies of which have been sent to the governor, state higher education officials, the Mumbai police and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation commissioner.

A university campus is not only a place of learning but should also reflect values such as sensitivity, coexistence and social responsibility, Nanavare said, seeking an urgent inquiry into the matter and strict action against officials responsible for stopping the food supply.

Dog feeders who used to visit the university premises regularly said that the administration had been preventing their entry since August 25.

The group had approached all the concerned authorities on campus, and even contacted Maneka Gandhi regarding the issue, but had not received any support so far, Singh said.

Another dog feeder, a working professional in the BKC who did not wish to be identified, said at least 4-5 dog feeders used to visit the campus daily to feed the dogs, along with a few dog lovers from within the campus.

“After we were stopped from entering the campus, dog lovers from inside the university informed us that the dogs were not doing well and appeared weak. We are requesting the university authorities to allow us to feed the dogs,” the person said.

Most dog feeders had identity cards issued by government authorities and the university could verify their identity cards and allow them to feed the dogs at designated spots, he added.

Nanavare alluded to these concerns in his complaint and demanded that the university immediately restore food and water arrangements for the dogs. He sought concrete action within 24 hours and warned that his organisation could launch a protest if the issue was not resolved.

An official from MU, however, said that while the university had been complying with orders pertaining to stray dogs issued by the Supreme Court and the union government from time to time, the feeding of dogs on campus had not been stopped.

“Residents on campus are permitted to feed the dogs,” the official said. But he did not comment on whether outsiders were also allowed to feed dogs on campus.

On November 7, 2025, the apex court had ordered the removal of stray dogs from schools, educational institutes, hospitals and other public institutions, and directed that the strays be re-released into those same premises after sterilisation. On May 20 this year, the court ruled that animal welfare groups and student bodies could maintain or feed stray dogs on educational campuses only if they formally accepted legal liability for dog-bite incidents or related harm.