----------------------------------------------------------
Archives:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/goa-net/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Goanet2003/
----------------------------------------------------------
STRAY ANIMAL MENACE : DIVISION BENCH REFERS PIL TO
LARGER BENCH
The Panaji Bench of the Bombay High Court comprising of Justice D.G
Deshpande and Justice P.V. Hardas today referred to a larger bench the
Public Interest Litigation filed by the Convenor of "People For Elimination
of Stray Troubles" (P.E.S.T), Dr Rosario Menezes, regarding the Stray
Animal Menace on the roads and public places. The Bench passed the order
when the matter came up for final hearing today.
Arguing on behalf of the petitioner Adv. Aires Rodrigues stated that the
population of stray dogs/cattle in Goa has reached alarming, dangerous
proportions and that the occurrence of dog-bites, and accidents due to
stray animals causes tremendous suffering and should not be permitted to
continue and that a pro-active view has therefore to be taken to eliminate
the menace of stray animals.
Adv. Rodrigues urged the Court to order and direct the authorities to
discharge their obligatory responsibilities under there respective Acts for
the confinement or elimination of stray dogs/cattle and for preventing and
checking the spread of dangerous diseases and accidents.
Appearing on behalf of the Animal Welfare Organisations Adv. Norma Alvares
submitted that the stray dog problem was under control in areas like Panaji
where People for Animals was enforcing the scheme but this contention was
strongly challenged by Adv. Aires Rodrigues who submitted that even the
streets of Panjim were infested with stray dogs.
Appearing on behalf of the Government of Goa Advocate General Atmaram
Nadkarni submitted that Government had formulated a scheme to deal with the
Stray Animal Menace. Opining that the authorities had to do much more to
resolve this menace, the Division Bench referred the matter to a larger
bench in view that there was already a Division Bench judgment banning the
killing of healthy dogs.
x x x
