Retired IAS Officer Slaps Woman For Taking Her Pet Dog In Lift; Know Rights Of Dogs To Use Elevators

A video has been going viral on the internet showcasing a scuffle between two residents in a society in Noida. A retired IAS officer was seen slapping a woman who brought her pet dog in the lift. The incident took place at 6 pm in the Parx Laureate' society.

However, a morphed video has also gone viral showcasing the woman trying to snatch away the phone of the retired IAS officer. Following this, her husband was also seen trying to save her. A few residents and security guards were also witnesses to the incident and were seen trying to resolve the dispute between the two parties.

Kalesh b/w a Retired IAS officer and a woman in a dispute over taking a dog in the lift in Park Larette Society, Noida Sector-108.
pic.twitter.com/sfd4ippceg

— Ghar Ke Kalesh (@gharkekalesh) October 31, 2023

This is not the first that such an incident has taken place in India. A few times in the past, pet dogs have bit residents, which has made people scared of them. However, many also see this as an opportunity to harass dogs and their owners. In the name of their safety, they become violent towards the animal as well as their parents, even if the animal seems harmless. Therefore, we bring you a guide to know about the rights of your dog.

Pet Owners Cannot Be Stopped From Using The Lift

A similar incident took place in Zirakpur, Punjab, in January 2020. The Resident Welfare Association (RWA) of a society put up a notice saying, “Dogs are not allowed in lifts.” It read that dogs spread foul smells and urinate in cars and lifts. If a pet owner was seen carrying their dog in the lift, they would be fined ₹1,000.

Vikar Luthra, a resident of the same society and an animal rights activist put this message on social media. He added that according to a high court ruling, no resident welfare association can make such rules. According to the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), RWAs cannot stop pet owners from using lifts.

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Are Dogs Restricted In Elevators In India?

According to VOSD (The Voice of Stray Dogs), a Bengaluru-based rescue organisation for dogs, societies are allowed to make rules, but they cannot restrict dogs from entering the lift. According to one of their articles, the managing committees in Indian societies can make rules, but they do not become the law of the land.

Usually, societies have multiple lifts, they can maybe restrict entry of pets in one, but they cannot prohibit pet owners from using the other lift. In an older judgement, the Central Mumbai Consumer Redressal Forum said that pets are like family members of urban and modern family units. Therefore, there is no restriction on them from using the lift.

It also said that moving dogs or any other pets via stairs would be considered practising cruelty against them. A statement on their website reads, “Housing associations cannot ban pets in elevators through notices put up for the purpose. They cannot frame bylaws framed or amended for the purpose, even with the consent of the general body.”

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According to the AWBI, muzzles are also illegal because they can lead to overheating. They are considered hazardous for dogs and can make them collapse. An incident like that happened in Noida in June 2023, in which a woman was filmed without her consent for using a lift with her dog (Why You Should Get A Pet Dog?).

The couple put up the video on social media despite the woman's protests. It only showcases that instead of finding ways to resolve the problem, people will go to any extent to breach one’s privacy and prove themselves righteous.