The Bombay High Court has sentenced Vineeta Srinandan, a resident of Navi Mumbai and Cultural Director of Seawoods Estate Housing Society, to seven days in jail and a ₹2,000 fine for contempt of court. This happened after she shared a letter that strongly criticised judges involved in a legal case.

The case was about a rule in the Seawoods Estate Housing Society. Some people wanted to feed stray dogs, but others, including Vineeta Srinandan, were against it.

The Bombay High Court had passed an order on January 21 allowing domestic staff of the residents to feed stray dogs inside the society. The court said this was part of animal welfare and supported the rule under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Vineeta Srinandan was not happy with the court’s decision. On January 29, she shared a letter titled “How Democracy is Being Crushed by Judicial System” with 1,500 people in the housing society.

In that letter, she made serious accusations against judges from both the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court. She even said, “Now we are convinced that there is a big dog mafia operating in the country, who has a list of High Court and Supreme Court judges…”

The judges found her letter insulting and said it was “derogatory, objectionable, and scandalizing.” They believed her words were trying to make people lose trust in the justice system. So, the court started contempt of court proceedings on its own and punished her.

The board of directors of the Seawoods Estate Housing Society said they did not agree with Vineeta's views. They gave an unconditional apology to the court and said her opinion did not represent the entire society.

The court has given Vineeta 10 days before she has to go to jail. This gives her a chance to appeal to the Supreme Court if she wants to.

 

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