The Supreme Court on Monday declined to interfere with the Bombay High Court’s order directing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to register FIRs against those feeding pigeons in defiance of a ban. A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi said it would be improper for the apex court to hear the matter parallelly and advised the petitioner to seek modification of the order before the High Court.
On July 30, the Bombay High Court, responding to petitions from animal welfare activists, ruled that pigeon feeding at kabootarkhanas had become a public health hazard, particularly for children and the elderly. The bench of Justices GS Kulkarni and Arif Doctor authorised the BMC to file cases under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to public nuisance and acts likely to spread infectious or life-threatening diseases. The court also directed the installation of security cameras at locations where feeding continued.
The order has sparked strong protests in Mumbai. Last Wednesday, hundreds clashed with police at the Dadar kabootarkhana, tearing down tarpaulin sheets installed by authorities to block feeding activities.
