Supertech Livingston: Trouble brews over proposed rules for pet owners

Following an incident in which five residents of Supertech Livingston, Crossings Republik, barged into a woman's house and threatened her after her dog allegedly scratched a child, the society's AOA has proposed a list of do's and don'ts for renting out apartments to pet owners.

1. Flat owners to seek permission of neighbours before renting out to pet owners

• As per the rule, flat owners cannot rent out their flat to people with pets without the consent of neighbours. In case the neighbours are against it, the flat owner should ensure that future tenants are also ones without pets. 

2. Rules for pet owners

• Pet owners to use service lifts when accompanied by pets.
• Pet owners to allow children who are afraid of dogs to use the elevator first.
• Pets are to maintain a minimum distance of 3 metres from kids.
• In case of an incident, they are to bear the cost of treatment and damages to the victim's family as per their claim and also produce the dog's papers. 
• Violators to pay a penalty of Rs 500 to the society's AOA.

The AOA's proposal has received stark criticism from animal lovers.

A tenant and a pet owner living in the society said the AOA was going beyond its bounds to formulate such rules.

Sumedha Aiyar, president of People for Animals Ghaziabad, told City Spidey that she was aware of the developments and was planning to issue a notice to the AOA if the rules were made official.

"We will issue a notice and stop this at any cost," said Aiyar. "First, the rules violate the right to freedom of both flat owners and tenants. Secondly, they also violate various provisions of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. People cannot be forced to follow these rules." 

City Spidey discussed the issue with Sudhir Sinha, president of Supertech Livinston AOA. Sinha said the rules were just a proposal and have not been made official yet. He said the points will be discussed in the next general body meeting on January 15. "We will make sure the rules don't hurt the sentiments of any resident. We also don't want to infringe on the rights of residents and tenants," he added.