Lawyers association writes to Chief Justice over stray dogs’ issue on HC premises: ‘Situation has worsened’

GHCAA President Yatin Oza requested the Chief Justice order the removal of stray dogs due to recent severe dog bites. (Source: Express Archives)

The Gujarat High Court Advocates Association (GHCAA) on Tuesday made a representation to Gujarat High Court Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal raising concern about the safety of litigants and advocates a day after a lawyer was seriously injured due to dog bite.

In his representation to the Chief Justice, GHCAA president, Senior Advocate Yatin Oza, has referred to a previous letter by former GHCAA president, Advocate Brijesh Trivedi, on November 10, last year, raising the issue of stray dogs. In the letter, Oza says, “The situation has worsened and gone out of control. The instances of dog bites to the litigants in December itself was four or five.

Yesterday (January 5, 2025), Radhesh Vyas, a regular practitioner of this court, had to bear the brunt as he suffered a dog bite. We had to rush him to hospital where he was treated but the bite was so severe that stitches were required and he was was administered three injections; in all (he) had to take eight injections.”

The letter also refers to complaints of other advocates having “a narrow and near escape” and states, “One advocate was surrounded by four stray dogs in the chamber building itself. I have witnessed dogs roaming freely outside the open area of the Honorable First Court.”

Urging the Chief Justice to take immediate steps in the matter, the letter says, “I would earnestly request you to be kind enough to forthwith ask the campus director or any officer whom your Ladyship deems fit to see that stray dogs are removed from High Court campus at the earliest. There is a lot of discontent and anger prevailing amongst the members of the bar because of uncontrolled movements of stray dogs in the premises of the High Court which endangers the physical safety and security of advocates as well as litigants and support staff of the advocates,”

In November last year, Trivedi, in a letter to the Registrar General of the Gujarat High Court sought removal of dogs from the premises of the HC in view of the November 7 Supreme Court direction to remove stray dogs from public places and put them in shelter homes.

Speaking to The Indian Express on Tuesday, Advocate Oza said, “There has been an incident in the past where some animal lover members of our Association have physically obstructed and attacked the officials of the Municipal Corporation to prevent them from taking action against stray dogs. This time, I have issued a video message as well that I will initiate strict action against those indulging in such acts by being the first informant… Monday’s incident had occurred just after the court hours as the advocate was on the premises of the HC.”

Oza added, “After I made the representation, I also learnt that another advocate had recently suffered a dog bite on campus and he managed to escape with minor injuries. This is a matter of safety of the advocates and I shall take it to its logical conclusion.”