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The Calcutta High Court yesterday, ordered the Debasree Roy Foundation to hand over a French mastiff dog, Bruno, to his owners. 

Allegedly, Bruno had gone missing on 14th January, 2022. Lawyer Sukanya Mirbahar, a resident of Golfgreen, claimed that the dog has been in their family for the last two and a half years. He was found on Facebook from Howrah three days after his disappearance. It is learned that he was rescued from in front of Panchla police station. Initially, he was kept at Panchla police station. But unable to handle Bruno, the police handed him over to Debashree Roy's Animal Foundation. Following which Mirbahar filed the petition to get back Bruno. 

Advocate Samrat Sen, representing the state had submitted that Bruno has not been treated well and was not in very good health. He had suggested Bruno's mental and physical health to be assessed. Accordingly, Justice Rajasekhar Mantha requested Dr. Goutam Mukherjee, thedoctor who have been overlooking Bruno's health, to examine his condition at the Debashree Roy Foundation. He also asked the doctor to indicate as to whether the dog at the Debashree Roy Foundation is, in fact, Bruno. 

On Thursday, Justice Mantha noted that Dr. Mukherjee could not assert the French Mastiff as Bruno, however depending on annexures and the fact that Bruno was able to identity the owner and her son, the Court ordered Bruno to be handed over to the petitioners. 

"Bruno shall be returned to its owners, i.e. the writ petitioner and her family in course of the day by the Debasree Roy Foundation. The writ petitioner unconditionally undertakes before this Court that she will take good care of the French Mastiff Dog, ‘Bruno’, physically and mentally," the Court ordered. 

The Court further recorded its appreciation for Debasree Roy Foundation for taking care of Bruno and allowed the persons concerned to visit Bruno for inspection. 

The Court also appreciated Mr. Samrat Sen, senior counsel, Mr. Suddhasatva Banerjee  and Mr. Ganguly for the petitioner and the Officer-in-Charge, Panchla Police Station, in resolving the issue and not treated the litigation as adversarial. 

Smt. Sukanya Mirbahar Vs. The State of West Bengal & Ors.