Bombay High Court forms expert committee on pigeon feeding ban 

The Bombay High Court, reiterating its earlier directions to form an Expert Committee, has now appointed the panel to examine the health impacts of feeding pigeons and whether it can be allowed in a regulated manner. 

In an order passed on Wednesday (August 13, 2025) evening, the court said protecting community health is paramount and directed the State to notify the panel by August 20, 2025. 

A Division Bench of Justices G.S. Kulkarni and Arif S. Doctor observed, “It is equally the duty of the Municipal Corporation to protect public health and prevent disease and considering such vital aspects in the larger interest of public health, has prohibited feeding at the Kabutarkhanas.” 

The court noted, “With the wisdom of the State government as also with the wisdom of the Municipal Corporation, we are certain that the issues can be resolved by having appropriate medical opinion on whether the decision as taken by the Municipal Corporation to close down the feeding of pigeons at the Kabutarkhanas, taken in larger public interest of the health of the citizens, is a correct decision.” 

The committee will be chaired by the Director, Department of Public Health, and include 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 work will be “to consider the impact on public health from feeding pigeons and the effect of pigeon droppings have on public health; if it is found that the feeding of pigeons adversely affects public health, whether the activity can be permitted in a regulated manner without compromising public health or places to be designated and the nature of the regulations.” 

The judges said it was “eminently in the larger public interest, that such expert committee is constituted”. 

The court also recorded that applications had been made to the Municipal Commissioner seeking permission to feed pigeons for limited time intervals. It said, “The interest of community health and/or the health of public at large, being also paramount cannot be overlooked. Thus, it is imperative that the Municipal Commissioner takes an informed decision in accordance with law on these applications of the petitioners.” 

The Bench permitted all stakeholders to submit their views to the Municipal Commissioner, which “shall be taken into consideration, and all such issues which may be raised, need to be addressed in detail.” 

It asked the expert committee to try to submit its report within one month of its first meeting, and adjourned the matter to September 10, 2025, clarifying that all earlier orders would continue to operate.