Housing society must provide water to strays: HC

The division bench of justice G S Kulkarni and justice R N Laddha heard the petition by Paromita Puthran, an animal lover and resident of the society. The petitioner had said that the society was not allowing her to feed strays

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court (HC) has directed RNA Royale Park CHS, in Kandivali West, to provide drinking water to stray dogs, placed at a dedicated spot, and emphasised that it was an obligation of all housing societies to do so.

The bench observed, “It would be an obligation of the residents of the society to always make provision for adequate water for the animals, particularly considering the onset of the summer season (Representational picture)

Additionally, the court also said that all strays must be fed at fixed times under the guidance of the NGO working for animal rights which was appointed by the court to assist it. The order was passed in a petition filed by an animal lover against the Kandivali housing society, which had allegedly appointed bouncers to drive away stray dogs and deter residents of the society from feeding them.

The division bench of justice G S Kulkarni and justice R N Laddha heard the petition by Paromita Puthran, an animal lover and resident of the society. The petitioner had said that the society was not allowing her to feed strays. The bench observed, “It would be an obligation of the residents of the society to always make provision for adequate water for the animals, particularly considering the onset of the summer season.”

The observation was made after advocates Nishad Nevagi, Anjali Malekar and Samaa Shah, representing Puthran, had informed the bench about the society’s move to drive away the stray dogs that had been living in the premises. The advocates had submitted that bouncers were hired to restrain residents from feeding the strays.

The bench had then appointed Abodh Aras, from the NGO Welfare of Stray Dogs, to intervene and ensure that members of the society and the petitioner resolve their differences amicably. Aras helped identify four spots in the society, details of which were submitted to the HC.

The bench added that members of the housing society must consult with Aras and fix a suitable time for feeding the dogs. “We leave it to the parties to decide the timings the dogs would be fed during the course of the day, however keeping some flexibility in such timings,” noted the bench.