Neighbourhood Woof v. Municipal Corporation Of Delhi

$~90 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 11252/2024 , CM APPL. 46572/2024 & 46573/2024 NEIGHBOURHOOD WOOF .....Petitioner Through:

Mr.Divyam Khera, Ms.Shivani Luthra Lohiya, Ms.Pranya Madan and Ms.Ishita Soni, Advs.

versus MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF DELHI .....Respondent Through:

Mr.Tushar Sannu. SC for MCD with Mr.Shobhan Sachdeva, Adv.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PURUSHAINDRA KUMAR KAURAV

O R D E R

% 14.08.2024 1.

Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner along with its office bearer submits that they have been trying to contact the respondent-MCD for ensuring the proper picking-up of the dogs and also for their safe release after the Independence Day 2024 celebrations are over. He, therefore, submits that the manner of picking up the dogs from the Red Fort area is uncoordinated and their release is going to be inhumane, thereby, causing immense distress to them. The petitioner, however, is ready to volunteer free of cost pick up and release of dogs in a coordinated manner ensuring minimal disturbance to their psyche.

2.

Learned counsel for the respondent-MCD who appears along with the concerned Officer submits that as of now, 232 dogs have been picked up by the respondent-MCD and they have been safely shifted to different places The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

temporarily. According to him, necessary details of all the dogs have been duly recorded in their record which also includes their concerned location. He submits that the MCD is taking due care to ensure safety of the dogs and dogs will be released at the respective location from where they have been picked-up and therefore, no interference is necessary at this stage. 3.

He, however, submits that the competent officer of the respondentMCD was trying to contact the petitioner to assist the MCD in the entire process, however, on account of some communication gap, the contact could not be established and therefore, the petitioner's assistance could not be obtained.

4.

Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner, however, opposes the aforesaid submissions and submits that even today, the petitioner is ready to take up the entire task in its hand. 5.

I have heard the learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the record.

6.

At this stage, it is too late in a day to pass any direction for shifting the dogs from one temporary location to another. The same is bound to create not only logistical issues but also avoidable inconvenience to the animals as well. There is nothing on record, as of now, to infer that the dogs are not being shifted and kept safely. Moreover, the dogs are scheduled to be released tomorrow evening. There is hardly any time left to redo the entire exercise. The Court, therefore, is not inclined to delve into the controversy on merits.

7.

However, keeping in view the submissions made during the course of hearing and with the consent of the parties, following arrangement is provided :- The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

i) The respondent-MCD should immediately get in touch with the Managing Trustee, Ms. Ayesha Christina Benn, (Mob No. 9873150373) and the respondent-MCD should take necessary assistance from the petitioner's representative in ensuring proper release of the dogs and their safety.

ii) Needless to state that respondent-MCD should also keep in mind that if the petitioner's representative suggests any viable method for ensuring the proper release of the dogs, all those aspects should be considered while taking the requisite steps. iii) The petitioner's representative is also at liberty to accompany the respondent-MCD's officials during the entire process. 8.

With the aforesaid observations, nothing more is required to be adjudicated in the instant petition.

9.

Accordingly, the instant petition alongwith pending applications stand disposed of.

PURUSHAINDRA KUMAR KAURAV, J AUGUST 14, 2024/MJ The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.