By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 10: A notice from the director of NEIGRIHMS asking all resident doctors of the RMO hostel not to keep pets inside their respective rooms has led to a huge hue and cry in the institute.
The notice issued by the warden in charge of the RMO hostel on September 6, citing an instruction from the director, said all resident doctors would not be allowed to keep pets.
“A maximum of three (3) days’ time will be given in this regard to relocate their pets if anyone is having one and if anyone found violating the above order stern actions will be taken against them by the authority concerned and they will be subjected to penalty of Rs 10,000 and if found the same being repeated then they will be debark from the hostel (sic),” the notice read.
The doctors and pet guardians of NEIGRIHMS have petitioned to the director requesting him to rescind the notice banning pet animals in the RMO hostel.
In the letter, they said that they had to reach out to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India following the notice to be guided on how to deal with the crisis.
PETA India is learnt to have taken note of this notice and is likely to send a letter to the NEIGRIHMS director on Monday seeking withdrawal of the notice.
The resident doctors termed the notice “unjust and unfair” at multiple levels, on humanitarian grounds as well as in legal terms.
“As doctors, we owe it to our patients to be available 24×7 in case of emergencies, especially during the days we are on duty. So, it is of absolute importance that we have to reside in the campus. The notice saying that we have to relocate our pets or get debarked from our quarters is basically forcing us to abandon these innocent animals if we have to stay here,” a resident doctor said.
The doctors and pet guardians asked if it would be ethical to ask parents to abandon their children in order to be allowed to stay in their homes.
They pointed out there have been no rules or bylaws preventing the staff or faculty members of the hospital from having pets in their quarters. “Imposing new rules is cruel,” the doctor said.
“Forcing us to leave our pets would be a violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960,” the doctors said, also referring to an advisory issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and judgement of courts across the country on animal companions.
The doctors also reminded the NEIGRIHMS director of Article 51A(g) of the Constitution of India, which makes it a fundamental duty of all citizens to have compassion for living creatures. This, they said, is extendable to companion animals kept by the residents of any housing society.
Referring to the judgment of the Supreme Court in relation to the case of AWBI versus A Nagaraja, they said it was held that all animals have a fundamental right to live with honour and dignity and lead lives free from cruelty.
“The imposition of any kind of ban on keeping pets or letting them use the common areas would certainly go against the basic principles laid down by the apex court in the above-mentioned case,” the doctors said.