The best news of the Year...for all pet owners in India...I am so happy...!!! Publication: Pune Mirror;Date: Feb 24, 2014;Section: City;Page: 5 ANIMAL WELFARE BOARD OF INDIA DECLARES ...Banning pets in societies illegal...!!! A circular by the Board, issued on Feb 1, declares disallowing dogs in residential buildings as violation of fundamental freedom guaranteed to the citizens of India. It’s time for a happy woof and many a tail chase! The Animal Welfare Board of India has issued a circular that declares banning pet dogs in housing societies as illegal. The circular, originally issued on February 1, was revised again on February 20 — a copy of which is with Pune Mirror — elaborating on more points raised by the public. “We were getting a lot of complaints from pet owners. Especially, the new residential buildings are less tolerant towards dogs and raise innumerable objections. Of course, even pet owners have to be responsible but there are no rules which say that people cannot have a pet or, if they do, it has to be a small one. This is curbing their basic right,” said Maj Gen (Retd) Dr R M Kharb, chairman of Animal Welfare Board of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. Aletha Tavares, the legal affairs executive to city Animal Welfare Officer Manoj Oswal, said, “I get a couple of such complaints from pet owners every month. People3/5/2014 Banning pets in societies illegal are targeted even if they feed strays. There was a case where a few foreigners used to feed strays in their locality in Baner. A lady from their society threatened to use a pepper spray on them.” Similar complaints were made by Anjana Mishra Chatterjee, a resident of Mont Vert Altesse, Sus Pashan Road. “Four people made a conference call to my landlady and told her that they had an issue with my pet dogs. They never said why they had a problem. Earlier, when I was staying in a different flat in the same society, the secretary pressurised the landlord to not renew my contract. Even now, he is pressuring my landlady. The management was also sent a letter from Manoj Oswal pointing out the illegalities of their actions.” However, when questioned, the secretary of the society denied any actions against the pet-owner. Pet lover Proshanto Mitra, a resident of Krishna Kamal Co-op Housing Society on Sus Pashan Road, also faced similar issues. “The society has put a lot of restrictions about where the pets are allowed. We have always been extremely careful and picked up after the pet. Still they keep saying that they dogs cannot be taken to common areas like the terrace, lifts, or walked in society premises. They have also got a notice from Animal Welfare Board of India which they haven’t paid any heed to,” he said. On the other hand, the chairman of the society said that the issue was closed after they got a letter from the Animal Welfare Board of India. Their society has no restrictions anymore. » Even after obtaining a consensus, Resident Welfare Associations (RWA) and apartment associations cannot ban residents from keeping pets. » Societies cannot insist on small-sized dogs or cite barking as a valid reason for a ban. » Even by amending by-laws or regulations, a ban cannot be put into place because it is illegal, it does not have the sanction of law and violates fundamental freedom guaranteed to the citizens of India. » If the residents are not violating any municipal or other laws, apartment associations and RWAs cannot object and by-laws, that are in variance with the laws of the country, cannot be framed » There is a court ruling to the effect that pets cannot be disallowed from using lifts/elevators and no charges can be imposed either for it. » Pets cannot be banned from using public parks, but a timing can be fixed for owners to walk them. » Pet owners can be requested to keep their pets on a leash when walking in common areas, but muzzles cannot be sought. » In the absence of Central or State laws requiring cleaning of pet excreta by pet owners, the same cannot be imposed as a rule, regulation or by-law, with respect or special charges or fines imposed on pet owners. They can be requested to do so...!!! Mayuri.Phadnis @timesgroup
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 14:49:41 +0000
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