Bombay HC sends NGO chief to Navi Mumbai to verify feeding spots for stray dogs

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Wednesday said a mutually workable solution on feeding spots was the need of the hour for the dispute between Seawoods Estate Limited (SEL) in Navi Mumbai and its residents who feed stray dogs and asked Abodh Aras chief executive officer of the NGO Welfare of Stray Dogs to visit and verify viable sites.


The HC bench of Justices Gautam Patel and Neela Gokhale also said financial implications were to be borne by the dog feeders who had no rights to insist on feeding dogs within the complex and having SEL pay for it. The feeders cannot insist on SEL to allocate funds for feeding, which would be the responsibility of the feeders themselves, said the HC.

The CIDCO said SEL had proposed three feeding sites outside their premises. The HC said one spot was too close to a service road and may be avoided, one is close to a school hence unacceptable and it may be workable if a two acre plot given to SEL on caretaker basis as green zone can be used to set up the stray feeding area.

Advocate Abha Singh for dog bite victims and SEL vice chairperson said that SEL was ready to get a few dogs adopted by shelter homes. Advocate Siddh Vidya for feeders said adoption must follow guidelines involving feeders too.

Singh said Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation had already issued tenders calling for construction of fencing around tree line areas to protect them and hence, the feeding spots created by SEL fell within these tree lines and were absolutely usable.

Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.