The Bombay High Court on Friday issued a show-cause notice for criminal contempt of court to a woman who circulated a letter with ‘objectionable and derogatory’ remarks against the Supreme Court and the High Court. This came after the HC had passed an order against a housing society that had barred a resident’s house help from entering the premises because she fed stray dogs.  

On February 5, a division bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Advait Sethna directed the housing society’s committee members to ‘apologize from the bottom of their hearts’ after one of them, Vineeta Srinandan, circulated a letter criticizing the judiciary. Another committee member, Alok Agarwal, had earlier sent an email regarding the court’s January 21 order but had apologized on February 4.  

On January 21, the HC had ruled that the society cannot stop a resident’s house help from entering just because the resident feeds stray dogs. The judges held that restricting entry violated the woman’s fundamental rights.  

On February 7, the society committee filed an affidavit with an unconditional apology for the email and the letter. However, the judges found it inadequate, stating it lacked remorse and did not clarify whether all 24 committee members supported Srinandan’s remarks.  

“This is nothing but a casual affidavit. We cannot accept it,” Justice Sethna said, warning of contempt proceedings against the entire committee if the affidavit was not rectified.  

Srinandan, present in court, repeatedly apologized, but the bench refused to accept it. “You are educated and fully aware of what you wrote. Just because you are a citizen, do you have the authority to rubbish court orders?” the judges asked.  

Justice Kulkarni, visibly enraged, said, “In 35 years of my legal career, I have not seen an educated person make such serious allegations against the court.” The judges noted that the society had over 1,500 flats, and Srinandan’s letter was an attempt to create a negative perception of the judiciary.  

The bench ruled that her letter undermined the court’s dignity and interfered with justice, warranting a contempt notice. “The uneducated have the highest regard for the court, but some educated people think they can tarnish its dignity,” Justice Kulkarni observed.  

Srinandan has been ordered not to leave Maharashtra until she responds to the show-cause notice. However, she is permitted to visit her ailing parents in Kerala and must share her travel details with the police. The Commissioner of Police, Navi Mumbai, has been directed to enforce this order strictly.  

During the hearing, the resident who feeds stray dogs told the court that her house help was still being stopped from entering. The society committee claimed she had not filled out the mandatory entry pass form.  

Angered by this, the judges said, “Our order permits her to enter. Who are you to impose a condition on our order? If she is stopped again, we will not spare any of you.”  

The resident has also filed a petition alleging that authorities, including the police and civic body, have failed to protect animal rights. Her lawyer informed the court that when she was mobbed by other residents for feeding dogs and called the police, they questioned her instead of helping.  

The bench has directed Assistant Government Pleader Manish Pabale to seek clarification from the Commissioner of Police, Navi Mumbai, on the police’s response in the matter.