Bombay High Court forms Expert Committee to study public health impact of feeding pigeons in kabutarkhanas

The Bombay High Court has constituted a 12-member expert committee to examine the health impact of feeding pigeons in public Kabutarkhanas and to determine whether such feeding can be permitted in a regulated manner without endangering public health.

A Bench of Justices G.S. Kulkarni and Arif Doctor passed the order on Wednesday while hearing multiple petitions challenging the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) prohibition on feeding pigeons at certain public places (Pallavi Sachin Patil & Ors. v. MCGM).

The Court had earlier noted that it was not equipped to assess complex medical issues and proposed the formation of a panel comprising experts with domain knowledge. On Wednesday, Advocate General Birendra Saraf submitted the proposed composition, which the Court accepted.

Composition of the Expert Committee

The committee will be chaired by the Director, Department of Public Health, and will include:

1. Executive Health Officer, BMC (Member)
2. Director, Town Planning Department (Member Secretary)
3. Director, Bombay Natural History Society (Member)
4. Professor from AIIMS (Member)
5. Officer nominated by Maharashtra Animal Welfare Board (Member)
6. Officer nominated by Animal Welfare Board of India (Member)
7. Dr. Sujeet Rajan, Pulmonologist (Member)
8. Dr. Amita Athavale, Pulmonologist (Member)
9. Professor of Immunology nominated by Government Medical College (Member)
10. Professor of Veterinary Science nominated by Government Veterinary College (Member)
11. Microbiologist nominated by Dean, JJ Hospital (Member)