Bombay High Court kinds knowledgeable committee on pigeon feeding ban

The Bombay High Court, reiterating its earlier instructions to kind an Expert Committee, has now appointed the panel to look at the well being impacts of feeding pigeons and whether or not it may be allowed in a regulated method. 

In an order handed on Wednesday (August 13, 2025) night, the court docket mentioned defending neighborhood well being is paramount and directed the State to inform the panel by August 20, 2025. 

A Division Bench of Justices G.S. Kulkarni and Arif S. Doctor noticed, “It is equally the obligation of the Municipal Corporation to guard public well being and forestall illness and contemplating such important features within the bigger curiosity of public well being, has prohibited feeding on the Kabutarkhanas.” 

The court docket famous, “With the knowledge of the State authorities as additionally with the knowledge of the Municipal Corporation, we’re sure that the problems could be resolved by having applicable medical opinion on whether or not the choice as taken by the Municipal Corporation to shut down the feeding of pigeons on the Kabutarkhanas, taken in bigger public curiosity of the well being of the residents, is an accurate determination.” 

The committee can be chaired by the Director, Department of Public Health, and embrace representatives from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Town Planning Department, Bombay Natural History Society, All India Institute of Medical Science, Maharashtra Animal Welfare Board, Animal Welfare Board of India, pulmonologists Dr. Sujit Ranjan and Dr. Amita U. Athavale, a professor of immunology, a professor of veterinary science, and a microbiologist. 

Its scope of labor can be “to think about the impression on public well being from feeding pigeons and the impact of pigeon droppings have on public well being; whether it is discovered that the feeding of pigeons adversely impacts public well being, whether or not the exercise could be permitted in a regulated method with out compromising public well being or locations to be designated and the character of the rules.” 

The judges mentioned it was “eminently within the bigger public curiosity, that such knowledgeable committee is constituted”. 

The court docket additionally recorded that purposes had been made to the Municipal Commissioner looking for permission to feed pigeons for restricted time intervals. It mentioned, “The curiosity of neighborhood well being and/or the well being of public at giant, being additionally paramount can’t be missed. Thus, it’s crucial that the Municipal Commissioner takes an knowledgeable determination in accordance with regulation on these purposes of the petitioners.” 

The Bench permitted all stakeholders to submit their views to the Municipal Commissioner, which “shall be considered, and all such points which can be raised, have to be addressed intimately.” 

It requested the knowledgeable committee to attempt to submit its report inside one month of its first assembly, and adjourned the matter to September 10, 2025, clarifying that each one earlier orders would proceed to function.