Mumbai News: Animal Feeder Serves Legal Notice To Mumbai Metro One Over Stray Cats' Forced Relocation At Saki Naka Station, Appeals To Police Commissioner For Action

Mumbai: An animal feeder has served a legal notice to Mumbai Metro One alleging cruelty to animals by relocating stray cats from Saki Naka metro station to an unknown location. The feeder has urged the Mumbai police commissioner to intervene and direct Andheri police to take cognizance of the non-cognizable complaint registered in this matter.

On April 2, The Free Press Journal had reported that Sana Baig, an animal feeder, had alleged that the staff of Mumbai Metro One Pvt. Ltd. (MMOPL), blue line from Ghatkopar to Versova, had carried out the forced relocation of a cat and its five new-born kittens from Saki Naka metro station.

On April 21, the feeder filed a criminal complaint against the metro authority for relocating cats following which a non-cognisable complaint was registered by Andheri police under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

On Monday, Baig served a legal notice to the senior manager of station operations with MMOPL demanding to conduct a prompt enquiry and help her in retrieving the cats back to their original position without any delay.

The notice, sent through Advocate Kajal Rajani with guidance from PAL Foundation, urged strict actions against the station manager of Saki Naka metro station, alleging that the relocation was carried out at his behest.

The feeder has written to the Mumbai police commissioner Deven Bharti alleging that Andheri Police have not initiated any prudent action after registering an NC in the matter. She has urged Bharti to intervene by directing Andheri police to take strict action against the manager of Saki Naka metro station and ensure “justice is served to the voiceless victim cats and protect their right to live as a part of the ecosystem.”

Roshan Pathak, animal rights advisor at PAL Foundation, siad, “Forcibly relocating a mother cat and her newborn kittens, and banning feeders from providing food, is both illegal and cruel. Such actions violate animal welfare laws and show a complete disregard for compassion and responsibility. It's been almost a month but no action has been taken by Andheri police.”

Advocate Kajal Rajani, legal advisor to PAL Foundation, said, “Cruelty towards animals is mostly taken for granted specially by establishments like Mumbai Metro note that Every living being has equal right to live as per Indian Constitution. Anyone who can harm a voiceless being, is a potential threat to his fellow humans as well.”