Mumbai Businessman Approaches High Court After Society Bars Blind Dog From Lift Use

A Mumbai-based 51-year-old businessman has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court after his cooperative housing society in Lower Parel barred his blind dog from accessing any of the three lifts in the premises. Ashish Goyal, a resident of a society comprising four 36-storey towers with 229 flats, said the towers are connected and share various common amenities including elevators, lobbies, a garden, parking area, and gym.

According to Goyal, the issue first arose on January 14 last year when a fellow resident objected to him using the lift while accompanied by his pet dog, Ozzy. The resident claimed Goyal was breaching society regulations. Feeling harassed, Goyal filed a non-cognisable complaint against the individual. However, he alleges that this led to a backlash, as several other society members allegedly spread false accusations and created hostility toward him and other pet owners in the complex.

On February 24, 2024, Goyal filed a complaint with the police, highlighting the “hostile environment against pet-owners in the society.” The very next day, the housing society’s managing committee issued a notice outlining its “Policy and guidelines on pets for residents of Marathon Era CHS.”

Goyal claims that the rules and penalties mentioned in the notice blatantly violated the directives laid down by the Animal Welfare Board of India and provisions under the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act. His lawyer, Siddh Vidya, told the publication that despite the existence of laws meant to safeguard animal rights, they were not being enforced. "This PIL is to ensure that the rights of animals are upheld by all," she said.

Goyal adopted Ozzy four years ago after the blind puppy was rescued just in time from a pond it had fallen into. Moved by the puppy's condition, Goyal didn’t hesitate to bring him home right away.