Feeding Pigeons in Mumbai Can Now Lead to Legal Action. Here’s Why
The Bombay High Court has instructed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to register FIRs against individuals feeding pigeons in public areas, citing health risks and public nuisance.
Feeding pigeons in public areas or on the streets of Mumbai is now considered a punishable offence, following a direction by the Bombay High Court to the BMC to initiate criminal cases against those who continue to feed the birds despite an existing civic prohibition.
A division bench comprising Justice G S Kulkarni and Justice Arif Doctor, while hearing a petition submitted by a group of animal lovers on Wednesday, noted that feeding pigeons in public creates a nuisance and is a health hazard for people across age groups, as reported by news agency PTI.
Earlier this month, the court had stopped the BMC from demolishing old heritage ‘kabutarkhanas’ (pigeon feeding centres) in the city, but had clearly stated that feeding birds there would not be allowed.
Despite the ban, people were reportedly continuing to feed pigeons at these spots.
“Despite clear directives intended to be implemented strictly, and the court’s refusal to stay the BMC’s actions, feeding of pigeons in these restricted zones appears to be happening widely,” the court remarked.
The High Court expressed displeasure over the ongoing pigeon feeding despite an existing policy against it, and noted that interim relief for pigeon feeding had been previously denied.
“This has now turned into a situation of blatant disregard for the law, as individuals continue to feed pigeons in direct violation of our earlier orders and obstruct civic staff from carrying out their responsibilities,” the court noted while passing the directive.
The court also instructed the BMC to take action against violators by lodging criminal cases.
“We hereby allow the municipal body to initiate legal proceedings against anyone feeding pigeons in violation of MCGM (Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai) directives, since such acts, in our view, constitute public nuisance and could result in the spread of diseases and endanger public health,” the High Court said.
“These actions clearly expose the public, particularly residents near pigeon feeding areas, to serious risks from infections/diseases that are harmful to human life, while also creating large-scale nuisance,” the court observed.
The bench directed the civic body to implement necessary measures and take strict steps to prevent the gathering of pigeons at various ‘kabutarkhanas’ across Mumbai.
The matter is connected to petitions filed by animal activists Pallavi Patil, Sneha Visaria, and Savita Mahajan, who opposed the demolition of pigeon feeding centres, claiming that it violated the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
However, the court rejected the argument, stating, “Human health and safety cannot be sacrificed due to such unregulated and unlawful congregation of pigeons.”
