Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai
Mumbai, Apr 24: In a significant legal development, the Bombay High Court (HC) has sentenced Vineeta Srinandan, a resident of Navi Mumbai and cultural director of Seawoods Estate Housing Society, to seven days’ simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of ?2,000 for contempt of court. The sentence stems from her circulating a letter that criticized judges over a housing society dispute related to the feeding of stray dogs.
Srinandan’s letter, titled “How Democracy is Being Crushed by Judicial System,” was circulated to 1,500 residents on January 29, 2025. The letter contained derogatory remarks against judges of both the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court. The court found the letter to be “derogatory, objectionable, and scandalising in nature,” leading to the contempt proceedings being initiated suo motu.
The controversy originated from a Bombay High Court order on January 21, which directed the Seawoods Estate Housing Society to allow residents’ domestic staff to feed stray dogs, in accordance with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023. The order sought to strike a balance between residents’ concerns and animal welfare, but Srinandan’s letter criticized the judges for the ruling.
The court found Srinandan guilty of criminal contempt, noting that the letter was a deliberate attempt to influence public perception and undermine the authority of the judiciary. The bench, led by Justices GS Kulkarni and Advait Sethna, stated that the letter was designed to instill distrust in the court and prejudice the ongoing proceedings. “The comments are well-calculated, designed, and articulated to ascribe motives towards the court and the judges,” the bench remarked.
While the Seawoods Estate’s board of directors issued an unconditional apology, distancing itself from Srinandan’s actions, the court held her solely responsible. The judges emphasized that the letter, issued during the pendency of the case, was intended to scandalize the court.
The court has stayed Srinandan’s sentence for ten days, giving her time to seek relief from the Supreme Court. This case highlights the serious consequences of making derogatory comments against the judiciary, especially during ongoing legal proceedings.