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HC tells BMC: Seek citizens’ views before finalizing rules on controlled pigeon feeding
- by Webdesk
- 14 Aug 2025
Source: Hindustan Times
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday instructed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to first seek public opinions and objections before taking any final call on the proposal to allow regulated pigeon feeding in Mumbai between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. daily.
A division bench comprising Justices G.S. Kulkarni and Arif Doctor was hearing petitions filed by animal rights campaigners and the Jain trust managing the Dadar Kabutarkhana. These petitions challenged the BMC’s recent drive against pigeon-feeding zones, a move justified on grounds of health risks caused by pigeon droppings and feathers.
During the hearing, the BMC informed the court about its plan to permit limited pigeon feeding for two hours every morning at kabutarkhanas. The bench, however, responded firmly: “You cannot take such a decision hastily. It must be thoughtfully considered. Since earlier decisions to ban pigeon feeding and shut kabutarkhanas were taken in the larger public interest, their integrity must be maintained.”
Representing the state, Advocate General Dr. Birendra Saraf expressed concern over the directive. “If authorities are burdened with extensive public hearings, the process will become unmanageable,” he argued. Dr. Saraf also submitted a list of 11 members, including doctors, officials from the town planning department, microbiologists, and other specialists, who will be part of a committee to assess the health impact of pigeon feeding on residents. This committee will be officially notified by August 20. He added, “The state is equally committed to safeguarding public health. We seek a final resolution. Expert opinions from multiple bodies will be taken into account. Inputs solely from the petitioners are not enough.”
The High Court is currently dealing with multiple petitions linked to the ban on pigeon feeding and the closure of kabutarkhanas across the city. The issue became highly contentious after members of the Jain community strongly opposed the ban, citing deep-rooted religious and cultural practices. On August 6, hundreds of protesters dismantled the plastic sheeting placed by the BMC over the Dadar Kabutarkhana to enforce the prohibition.
In its earlier hearing on August 7, the court had underlined that public health — particularly the health of children and elderly citizens — takes priority. It had suggested forming an expert panel to study the consequences of pigeon feeding, and had already collected medical feedback from lung specialists. These experts warned of serious health hazards from close contact with pigeons.
The bench had remarked, “The state can set up a committee, as it is responsible for protecting the health and welfare of its citizens, and must balance the needs of the wider population.” The court also observed that decisions like shutting kabutarkhanas were grounded in modern scientific research, and the judiciary should defer to specialist advice in such matters.
“If expert opinion concludes that the closures are justified, such advice must prevail for the greater good. Neither the state government nor the corporation should go against such findings,” the judges stated. “Our sole concern is public health. While a few individuals wish to feed pigeons, the ultimate decision rests with the government.”
Earlier, the BMC had told the court that pigeon droppings and feathers can trigger asthma and other respiratory conditions, including hypersensitivity pneumonitis. A medical report presented in court explained that prolonged exposure to pigeons could severely damage the lungs, causing acute breathing difficulties. Often, the condition is diagnosed late, by which time fibrosis has already set in. There is currently no medicine to cure or reverse fibrosis, the report added.
One petitioner, Pallavi Patil, had previously moved the Supreme Court against a Bombay High Court order instructing police to register FIRs against those continuing to feed pigeons at kabutarkhanas. The Supreme Court, however, declined to intervene in the matter, leaving the High Court’s proceedings in place.
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