BMC denies charge, says Crawford Market shops have valid permits

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has told the Bombay High Court that there are no shops which sell banned exotic birds or animals inside the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market (Crawford Market). Shops which deal in animals inside the market are licenced and have obtained due permissions from the civic body, it said.

In an affidavit filed by assistant superintendent (market), Sayyad Hussain Ibrahim, it said, "Officials of the market department regularly keep a watch on the activities of selling animals and birds in the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule market, and the allegation of trade, taping of indigenous birds or trade of foreign birds, still thriving at the market, is denied."

Trupti Puranik, the advocate appearing for the corporation, filed the affidavit in response to to a PIL filed by one Sanjay Shirke which urged the court to direct the animal welfare board to frame rules to regulate pet shops in the state.

The affidavit denied the charges. "The staff has been unable to identify the cages and places where the petitioner has alleged that animals are kept and there is no deliberate inaction or willful violation of law, by the corporation. Thus the allegation is denied," it said.