Arti Puri v. Govt. Of NCT Delhi & ORS

$~04 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 2998/2020, CM 10400/2020, 12200/2020, 12206/2020, 12207/2020, 12211/2020 and 12217/2020 ARTI PURI ..... Petitioner Through:

Ms. Gauri Puri, Advocate.

versus GOVT. OF NCT DELHI & ORS.

....Respondents Through:

Mr.Anjum Javed, Advocate for R1.

Mr.Anurag Ahluwalia, CGSC with Mr.Abhigyan Siddhant, Advocate for R2.

Mr.Anil Grover, Standing Counsel, NDMC with Ms.Noopur Singhal, Advocate for R3.

Ms.Namrata Mukim, Standing Counsel for R4/Nr.DMC.

Ms.Manisha Karia, Advocate for R7.

Ms.Sonia A.Menon, Advocate for R8.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE HIMA KOHLI HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUBRAMONIUM PRASAD

O R D E R

% 10.06.2020 HEARD THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCING 1.

The present petition has been filed as a PIL, wherein the petitioner seeks directions to the respondents, Govt. of NCT of Delhi, Union of India, the civic authorities, Animal Welfare Board and the Delhi Society for Prevention of Cruelty in Animal (SPCA) Board, for providing immediate food and water to stray dogs and animals in the State of Delhi, till the lockdown declared on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, is lifted.

W.P. (C) No. 2998/2020 Page 1 of 2

2.

When the petition was listed on 27th April, 2020, notice was issued thereon and in the meantime the respondent/Govt. of NCT of Delhi was directed to facilitate e-passes for NGOs and individual dog lovers to enable them to provide food and water to stray animals during the lockdown period. 3.

Learned counsel for the petitioner states that now that the lockdown has been lifted by the Central and the State Governments, she does not wish to press the present petition. However, the petitioner reserves her right to approach the Court in future, if the need arises, in the light of the contradictory stands taken by the Govt. of NCT of Delhi, the Animal Welfare Board and the civic authorities. Learned counsel contends that none of them claim to be responsible for providing sucker to stray animals and have been passing on the buck to the other authority.

4.

At this stage, Ms. Karia, learned counsel for the Animal Welfare Board states that the Animal Husbandry Department of each State is responsible for providing sucker to stray animals but the petitioner has not impleaded the said Department as a co-respondent.

5.

While reserving the right of the petitioner to take up this issue in future if the situation so demands, the present petition is disposed of alongwith the pending applications.

HIMA KOHLI, J.

SUBRAMONIUM PRASAD, J.

JUNE 10, 2020 tr/rkb W.P. (C) No. 2998/2020 Page 2 of 2