Remove ‘bouncers’, protect dog feeding rights, Bombay HC to housing society | Mumbai News
MUMBAI: Bombay high court has directed the administrator of a suburban housing society to relieve within two days the two “bouncers” who were appointed to prevent stray dogs from being fed at designated spots on the premises. The HC, hearing a contempt plea by a resident, also observed that the water bowls provided for the dogs should not be removed, which the society agreed to.A division bench of Justice Girish Kulkarni and Justice Arif Doctor, in a recent order made available on Monday, further stated that to resolve disputes on these matters, if they arise, the administrator of RNA Royale Park Cooperative Housing Society shall appoint an appropriate committee comprising five members – petitioner Paromita Puthran, two dog lovers, and two other society members – and subsequently appropriate measures should be taken.The HC noted that two women were appointed by the housing society as special security personnel in Dec 2024, who according to Puthran, represented by advocates Gauraj Shah and Samaa Shah, were “bouncers” to prevent dogs from being fed at designated spots, which was in disobedience of earlier court orders. Puthran produced photographs to back her concerns. “Pursuant to orders dated March 27, 2023, March 28, 2023, and April 24, 2023, it was incumbent upon the society and its office-bearers not to employ bouncers, as per the undertaking given before the court, as well as in compliance with the orders passed by the court,” the petition said, adding that the society and its office-bearers’ failure to do so makes them liable for contempt proceedings. Puthran’s lawyer sought orders from the HC against continuance of the “bouncers”.RNA Royale Park, through advocates Rahul Sarda and Prabhu, stated that henceforth the housing society would not engage “bouncers”, as the HC observed in its order. On Feb 6, 2025, an administrator was appointed for the society in another case. “Considering the fair stand taken on behalf of the society and managing committee members”, the HC said, “was inclined not to pass any further orders in exercise of the contempt jurisdiction against these contemnors.” When the HC passed orders earlier, there were 18 stray dogs having a territorial affinity to the society, and now there are 15.
