Noida : After the tragic incident in Lotus Boulevard in Sector 100, A statement was issued by the AOA which read, “AOA President has spoken to the Noida Authority and the entire govt. machinery is aligned to sort this menace.” Apartment Times contacted Punit Chadha, the resident and petitioner to know how much dog menace has been controlled over a year and we got to know that despite decreasing, the cases and the menace have increased dreadfully.
Punit Chadha, Petitioner and resident of Lotus Boulevard tower 28/ 1804 shares that he shifted from Delhi where he was resentful with the increasing traffic day by day and bought a flat in this society thinking that it would be a better place to live in as it is a gated community with lots of amenities. He says, ” I thought my 75-year-old mother would be happy here as there is a walkway for her to walk daily, but it is tragic to see that it is impossible to roam in society without a stick “.
Why ABC rules are above everything?
Punit Chadha says, “This incident of the 7-month-old child was shocking one. This was covered by national media, and we thought the movement would start, but nothing changed. We filed complaints, but no FIR was done “.
One clip of Dog Feeder had gone viral at that point of time
Punit says, “We forwarded that clip in which dog feeders were saying clearly that a dog has attacked a baby and we need to hide the dogs. We gave that recording to the Police but no one took action. The recording was strong evidence, but no action was taken even after so many reminders. We kept waiting for the investigation, but nothing happened.”
Authority is in a sorry state of affair
Punit says, “Authority has no proper infrastructure. It is a business now. Officials have no sympathy for the residents of the society. Dogs are left in societies, and later those dogs are taken out after being charged a hefty amount from residents 5000-8000 rupees per dog. We are legally bound and cannot take them out ourselves and it is a matter of lakhs to take care of these dogs as the number keeps on growing in the society every month.
ABC rule has a battery of high-end lawyer
Punit informs us that these lawyers are not cheap, as their fees are in lakhs and even in crores. When the court is about to pass an order against them, they change the rules.
Community animal is a troublesome terminology
Punit alleges that community dog terminology is so troublesome that it doesn’t make any sense. Private property cannot be forced and used to give shelter and security to stray animals; As this is meant for human residents. The authorities have no infrastructure, so we cannot remove dogs. self-defence is not allowed. Big shots are sleeping like the Bureaucrats and politicians, higher authority, whose task is to protect us, what are they doing?
Where were the dogs at the G 20 summit?
Punit asks, ” This was the biggest hypocrisy when the delegates from all over the globe came to New Delhi, India, all the dogs were removed and when it was over they were back. How? Why were they removed means everyone knows the burning problem. What should we wish for these dogs should bite someone so that they come to know of the sad reality?”
Why courts are not seeing all this?
Punit raises question. raises He asks, “Honourable judges cannot see all this? Bureaucrats can’t take action. What is interest what is the motive? In 2016, there was a ban on feeding pigeons even on private balconies. Then why the court is failing to ban dog feeding?”
Right to live in peace
Punit says, “The right to live in peace is a fundamental right and human life is above all. Why human life is less important than dog life?”
There are no dog lovers, they are only doing business
Punit says, “We are surprised to see why the higher authorities sitting silently on this major issue. Don’t they experience anything? They also must be facing some other problem like this. We have normal lawyers but these NGOs have a high-end team of lawyers. Who pays them? Who is funding them?”
Do our lives of normal citizens mean there will be no action?
Punit asks, ” We are normal citizens. Is that the reason that no action has been taken? Or the Law is waiting for a dog to bite the prominent figure, only then the action will be taken.
In some instances, the Dogs are left inside society forcefully, and later asked for money
Punits says, “NGOs can do this for free, why do they charge? A hefty amount is charged per dog, if we keep paying like this, we will be on the streets soon and dogs will be seen in our flats. Take them to the shelter house, feed them and take care of them. The Budget should be passed, and NGOs can take aid from the government, and take care of dogs.”
Security staff is not trained to tackle the dogs
Punit says, “Other problems can be solved but this kind of problem is putting us in deeper problems every day. Dog feeders torture the security guards and threaten them if they help in saving children and senior citizens and stop the dog feeders from feeding.
If we stop paying NGOs, they will leave the dogs back in society
There is no record of medical sterilisations. They leave dogs back which keeps multiplying.
They are not dog lovers
Punit informs that Dog feeders keep food anywhere, and when the dog does not find food in that place next time, he will get angry and will bite whoever ever standing there. Elders have weak reflexes and are unable to run, they will be bitten. How to save them?
The judiciary should wake up, and acts/rules should be modified by the ground reality and plight of residents
Punit suggests that ” We should have the right of self-defence, and take out stray dogs from our private property. The government should allot the land to give permanent shelter for these stray dogs. All dogs should be moved from the society and relocated there.”
Citizens should be allowed to practice their fundamental rights
Punits share the important information. He says, “Under the Constitution, Article 21 guarantees citizens the right to life and liberty, freedom of movement and the right to live in a safe and disease-free environment. None of these rights can be denied to them or overridden by the ABC Rules or an activity like stray dog feeding under any circumstances. Additionally, in May 2023, a constitutional bench of the Hon’ble Supreme Court also clearly laid down that fundamental rights are for citizens alone and do not apply to animals.
In 2016 the Hon’ble Supreme Court upheld a Bombay High Court order prohibiting a family from feeding pigeons even from their private balcony, stating that “a person cannot feed birds from a flat’s balcony creating nuisance due to droppings and filth for other occupants in a residential society.” Hon’ble Justices UU Lalit and Indu Malhotra stated, “If you are living in a residential society, then you have to conduct yourself according to the norms.” The ABC Rules cannot and do not override this Apex court judgment for society rules regarding nuisance and health hazards for residents due to the feeding of animals.