Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has sentenced a woman to a week of simple imprisonment for calling judges a part of a ‘dog mafia’. Vineeta Srinandan was held guilty of contempt of court and sentenced on Wednesday. She has been granted 10 days to challenge this order before the Supreme Court.
Vineeta is a resident of the Seawoods Housing Society in Navi Mumbai. She also happens to be the cultural secretary of the gated community.
The matter pertains to a long-standing dispute between members of the housing society over the feeding of stray dogs. A section of members, including Vineeta, had challenged a rule under the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 that mandates the accomodation of feeding of stray animals by residential associations.
During the legal proceedings, society member Leela Verma filed an intervention application, claiming that she was facing opposition while feeding strays at designated spots within the campus.
In January, the Court passed an interim order, restraining residents of the society from preventing Leela from feeding strays.
This was when Vineeta penned a note and circulated it among members of the society. Part of it stated: “Now we are convinced there is a big dog mafia operating in the country, who has a list of High Court and Supreme Court judges having views similar to the dog feeders….Most of the High Court/Supreme Court orders will defend dog feeders, ignoring the value of human life.”
This note was brought to the notice of the High Court by Leela and the bench took suo motu cognizance. Vineeta was served a show cause notice on February 7, following which she tendered an unconditional apology. The judges were not impressed.
“We do not accept any apology which does not show any contrition or genuine remorse. This apology appears to be a routine mantra of sorry,” the Court observed. The Court also held that such conduct, especially from an educated individual, reflected a conscious and calculated attempt to tarnish the judicial system.
