Retired BEST Employee Faces Eviction Over Feeding Stray Dogs In Kandivali Quarters, Sparks Outrage Among Animal Welfare Activists

Mumbai: A bitter standoff has erupted between the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) and one of its own retired veterans after the latter was served an eviction notice from the staff quarters in Kandivali (W) for feeding stray dogs. While the veteran urged the chief minister and the police commissioner to intervene, animal welfare activists have threatened to challenge the public body’s move in court, citing a violation of constitutional rights.

Janardan Ohol (59), a retired BEST employee, has been living in BEST’s staff quarters located in Kandivali (W) with his family of four for the last 10 years. On Friday, the public body’s welfare wing issued a notice to Ohol, asking him to vacate his quarters, accusing the family of “public nuisance” for feeding stray dogs in the premises and keeping dogs and cats as pets.

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The letter, signed by the welfare wing’s senior welfare officer Hemant Rajgadkar, alleged that the family’s act of feeding stray animals has increased the number of dogs in the locality, created unsanitary conditions in the area and caused inconvenience to other residents. The letter stated that the family’s act of feeding has led to multiple dog bite cases while accusing them of violating society’s rules by keeping pets. “If you are allowed to stay in this colony, there is a possibility that the lives of other residents may be in danger,“ the letter read.

On Sunday, Ohol’s wife, Sarika, wrote to the CM and police commissioner asking them to intervene in the case. She alleged that the family is being “harassed” by BEST officials and other neighbours for feeding strays at spots designated by the civic body. She also alleged that several emails written to BEST’s General Manager have also gone unanswered.

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Notably, the issue has been causing a stir within the BEST quarters for some time. In July 2025, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Veterinary Health Department issued the Animal Welfare Board of India’s guidelines to the chairman of the BEST Staff Quarters after the feeder family complained of harassment. The letter highlighted that citizens who feed stray animals are performing a constitutional duty, and harassing such feeders can be treated as a grave offence of criminal intimidation.

However, when The Free Press Journal contacted Rajgadkar, he said, “Feeding dogs is strictly prohibited in staff quarters. We have received several complaints of dog bites from other residents, and therefore, we had to ask the family to vacate their designated quarters for violating the rules.”

Animal welfare activists have strongly condemned the eviction notice, highlighting that BEST’s rules are against the duties enshrined in the Indian Constitution. Activists have threatened the BEST of legally challenging the eviction notice, highlighting various judgements by the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court, which uphold that residents' associations cannot prohibit the feeding of animals in open spaces.

Roshan Pathak, animal rights advisor with In Defence of Stray, said, “BEST has no jurisdiction to prevent a feeder from feeding stray animals, an act which is approved by the constitution. If society has seen an increase in the dog population, it is the BMC’s duty to ensure that the dog population is controlled. The feeders should not be asked to stop their noble work. If BEST does not stop this harassment, we are ready to take them to court.”

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