Senior counsel and former president of the Gujarat High Court Advocates Association Asim Pandya has renewed his appeal to the High Court administration to address the stray dog menace on the court campus. He warned that if no action is taken, he will file a contempt petition for non-compliance with the Supreme Court's directions on controlling stray dogs.
Background of the Issue
Pandya had previously requested the High Court administration to remove stray dogs from the campus to ensure the safety of lawyers, litigants, and court staff. In a recent letter to the Registrar General of the High Court, he alleged that the administration has failed to comply with the Supreme Court's directives issued on May 19.
Details of the Letter
In his letter, Pandya stated, “To the best of my information, more than 25 dogs are residing in the court building and its precinct. These dogs pose a serious threat to the life and movement of people attending our High Court. It is a matter of your knowledge that one advocate was bitten a few months back by a dog in the High Court building. Dogs are found not only in lawyers’ chambers but in the court building on every floor. Dogs are defecating and urinating in the lawyers’ chamber building, court corridors, and near libraries. This is causing a serious hygiene issue.”
Pandya demanded a prohibition on feeding within the court building and near lawyers’ chambers until the removal of dogs is completed. He proposed a temporary, dedicated feeding space away from public areas, referencing Rule 20 of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023. The letter also sought affidavits from those feeding dogs, accepting “tortious liability” for any attacks or bites, citing paragraphs of the Supreme Court order.
Legal Action Threatened
Pandya requested the Registrar General to register a suo motu petition for redressal of the problem. He further stated, “If no steps are taken in response to this letter, I would be constrained to initiate appropriate proceedings, including a proceeding for contempt of court against the persons responsible for the management of the Gujarat High Court.”
