Latest news with #Seawoods
India Today
24-04-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Mumbai woman calls judges 'dog mafia', sentenced to one week of imprisonment
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday sentenced a woman to simple imprisonment in a contempt of court Srinandan, a resident and Cultural Director of Seawoods housing society in Navi Mumbai, was sentenced to one week of simple imprisonment for calling the judges of the High Court and Supreme Court as part of a "dog mafia".The sentence was, however, suspended for 10 days at the request of Srinandan's legal representatives, allowing her time to challenge the order before the Supreme The contempt proceedings were initiated suo motu after Srinandan circulated written material within the Seawoods residential colony that scandalised the judiciary and interfered with the administration of justice, the court Srinandan was convicted after a document authored by her stating, "now we are convinced that there is a big dog mafia operating in the country, who has a list of High Court and Supreme Court judges..." was case pertains to a longstanding legal proceeding between residents of Seawoods Limited over the issue of feeding stray dogs, in which a rule under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023 - mandating residential associations to accommodate the feeding of stray animals - had been challenged by the part of the legal proceedings, an Intervention Application was filed by Leela Verma, a resident facing opposition while feeding dogs at designated places in January, the court issued an interim order restraining the society from preventing Leela Verma from feeding stray dogs. Subsequently, Leela Verma submitted an affidavit containing the contentious document authored and circulated by Vineeta document included statements alleging judicial bias and mockery of a reported dog attack incident. It read, in part: 'Now we are convinced that 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.'The court found these remarks deeply offensive, noting that the content was a "dedicated attempt" to undermine the dignity and authority of the judiciary. A show-cause notice was issued to Srinandan on February 7, and although she later submitted an affidavit with an unconditional apology, the court deemed it insincere."We do not accept any apology which does not show any contrition or any genuine remorse," the bench stated, adding that the apology appeared to be "a routine mantra of sorry" intended only as a legal court emphasised that such conduct, especially from an educated individual, reflected a conscious and calculated attempt to tarnish the judicial Watch
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bombay high court sentences Navi Mumbai woman for criminal contempt over dog feeding dispute
Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Wednesday held a Navi Mumbai woman of guilty of criminal contempt of court and sentenced her to a week's simple imprisonment for her "audacious attack on the court" through an article she wrote and circulated in a large residential complex on "dog feeder's mafia". The writing scandalised and lowered the dignity of the court and interfered with the administration of justice, held the HC. The contemnor, Vineeta Srinandan , "made serious insinuations against HC and Supreme Court judges", said a division bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Advait Sethna. On a request made by her senior counsel Vikram Nankani, the HC suspended the sentence for 10 days, to enable an appeal before the SC. The court had initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against the woman, a resident and former director of Seawoods Estates Ltd in Navi Mumbai. Seawoods had earlier petitioned the HC to challenge rule 20 of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules of 2023. It requires residents' welfare associations (RWAs) and apartment owners associations (AOAs) to enable feeding of strays on their premises and for local civic bodies to provide space and make arrangements to feed community animals. A resident, Leela Verma, in turn, expressed her grievances of being unlawfully stopped from feeding strays. In Jan, the HC, in an interim order, directed Seawoods not to obstruct Verma and also not to stop any domestic help from going to her house for her duties. Verma, through her lawyer S V Sonawane, had also cited "objectionable" content issued by Srinandan in the form of a circular dated Jan 29. The complex has around 1,500 families. After perusing the circular, the HC, on Feb 4, said contempt proceedings were required to be initiated for "such conscious, brazen, derogatory, and objectionable contents" considering the "impunity and tenor of her writings". However, at the time, she was not in India. On Feb 7, the HC issued Srinandan a show-cause contempt notice. On Feb 21, the HC noted that the board of directors of Seawoods Estate Ltd had completely disowned Srinandan's actions. Srinandan, in an affidavit, said that her writing was a "grave error" and she had resigned as Seawoods director, and taht she holds the judiciary in high regard. She sought pardon and leniency. The HC said a holistic reading of her reply shows no compunction for her "conscious actions", and it appeared to be a "whitewash". The HC said the contents of her article, right from its title, were a dedicated attempt and design calculated to bring the court and the judges into disrepute through her "reckless comments". Could such vilification be set to nought by accepting her "crocodile tears", wondered the court. The HC said she committed criminal contempt and deserved the maximum punishment—of six months—but it was giving her a lesser sentence. "The iron hands of law apply equally irrespective of the category of the contemnors," the HC observed as it also imposed on her a fine of Rs 2,000.
