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Indian Express
5 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Human health ‘vital', matter of ‘grave concern' if hazards caused: HC on BMC's crackdown on kabootarkhanas
The Bombay High Court on Thursday, while hearing pleas against BMC's recent crackdown on pigeon feeding at 'kabootar khanas' (feeding areas) , said there cannot be anything more vital than human health and if any hazard is caused due to congregation of pigeons at such areas, it is a 'matter of grave social concern.' The court sought within two weeks the medical material and opinion of an expert doctor from Bombay Hospitals over health hazards created by kabootarkhanas along with an affidavit from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) over the same after consultation with expert doctors from its hospitals. It continued an interim order of not demolishing heritage kabootarkhanas and also directed the BMC employees not to use firecrackers to disperse pigeons at such feeding areas. 'In as much as the decision of BMC is taken in the larger interest of societal health, it includes all categories of persons from children to senior citizens, we need to consider such issues as paramount and directly affecting life and livelihood under Article 21 of the Constitution,' the HC noted. A division bench of Justices Girish S Kulkarni and Arif S Doctor was hearing a writ plea filed by animal rights activists and others, who sought direction to restrain BMC from demolishing kabootarkhanas/feeding areas for pigeons and to ensure that the petitioners and other citizens are not prevented from feeding pigeons. On July 15, the HC had noted that rights of humans and animals should be balanced and refused to pass an interim order permitting feeding pigeons twice a day pending hearing of the plea. On Thursday, the court was informed about an intervention which referred to the case of a senior advocate who passed away being diagnosed with a medical condition of interstitial lung disease due to pigeon droppings. This is a direct case of health hazard being suffered by a senior advocate of the court who is no more. We consider such intervention to be quite imminent and permit intervention (of the late lawyer's kin) to be allowed,' the HC noted and said the intervenor can be heard during next hearing. The court also said considering the nature of the issues involved, the present proceedings 'ought not to be considered adversarial.' 'There cannot be anything more vital than human health and if any hazard and or potential for such hazard is there, due to the congregation of pigeons at kabootarkhana, it is certainly a matter of grave social concern and steps being taken by BMC considering contemporary material would be required to be accepted,' the court noted. The BMC, through Dr. Amita U Athavale, head of pulmonary medicine at civic-run KEM Hospital, filed an affidavit in reply to a plea stating that medical research has linked exposure to pigeon droppings with hypersensitivity pneumonitis and asthma, which can progress to respiratory failure. The court sought data from BMC through its hospitals as to how many patients who required pulmonary treatment due to pigeon droppings and feathers and said that it will look into the issues after petitioners' rejoinder and suggestions by the Animal Welfare Board. The petitioners alleged that municipal officers were using firecrackers to disperse pigeons at kabootarkhanas. 'We direct that if firecrackers are being used, they shall not be used,' the HC said. After the BMC lawyer submitted that another bench of HC earlier had cited health hazards of kabootarkhanas based on Dr. Sujeet Rajan's opinion, the HC asked Dr. Rajan of Bombay Hospital to go through BMC's response and submit relevant medical material on health risks from pigeon droppings within 10 days. The bench will hear the matter after two weeks.
Indian Express
20-07-2025
- Indian Express
Bombay HC orders top 18 floors Tardeo-high-rise residents to vacate flats without Occupation Certificate
The Bombay High Court has directed 'selfish' residents occupying the top 18 floors of a 34-storey tower in Tardeo, south Mumbai, having no Occupation Certificate (OC) to vacate their premises within two weeks and also raised concerns over no fire NOC for the entire high-rise. Failing which, the BMC will be free to take any action under notices issued by it as per law. The Court said residents of the Willingdon View Cooperative Housing Society, while indulging in 'brazen illegalities' for years, were least bothered about their own and others' lives. 'There being no fire No Objection Certificate (NOC), no OC for 17 to 34 floors, itself is glaring. It appears that the persons who are occupying the 34 storied building are least bothered about their own lives, if this be so, how can they be bothered about anybody else, in the event of any untoward incident of any nature taking place,' the HC observed. 'Such an approach which is wholly contrary to law, cannot be countenanced, in fact, it would set an example to perpetuate illegalities. It needs to be deprecated,' The Court clarified that the said persons will be entitled to occupy respective flats or tenements on 17th to 34th floor 'only after OC is granted' by following due process of law. A bench of Justices Girish S Kulkarni and Arif S Doctor passed an order on July 15 (Tuesday) while hearing a batch of pleas pertaining to the high-rise occupied by 50 flat purchasers of total 62 flats, which was made available on Saturday night. The bench rejected a request by senior advocate Dinyar Madon for housing society that sought stay on operation of the order citing Supreme Court order in Campa Cola case. The HC noted that during earlier hearings, the members occupying 'illegal' flats from 17 to 34 floors were 'emphatically' told to make alternate arrangements. The bench further said that there cannot be a plea 'more audacious' than the one seeking permission to occupy flats without OC as it would lead to 'regime of complete lawlessness.' Senior advocate S U Kamdar for BMC said it had issued several notices in respect of 17 to 34 floors to vacate their premises and said that the construction was required to be restored in conformity with originally submitted plans He argued that permitting occupancy on 17 to 34 floors would be against the law and in fact the entire building was required to be sealed for not having fire NOC. The HC said that while it will hear the plea in regard to those who occupy 1st to 16th floors having part-OC during next hearing, the BMC 'shall stay its hands in resorting to any demolition, under the notices and insofar as the illegal constructions in respect of which notices were issued.' However, Justice Kulkarni for the bench 'unreservedly' noted that in view of its observations and earlier orders, it 'did not approve the members continuing their occupation in the absence of the Fire NOC to the building even in regard to the 1st to 16th floors which has no fire clearance or approval from the Fire Department, by way of a Fire NOC.' The HC refused a plea to continue the earlier interim protection order of March 20, 2025 for another year to take corrective measures for regularisation and vacated the same. 'We would be justified to say that the flat purchasers who have taken law into their own hands in occupying construction which has no OC, are a selfish lot, who not only with open eyes are acting contrary to the building regulations but also have means, to defeat legal actions being taken by BMC, by indulging in several statutory violations, which can never be permitted,' the judges recorded. 'Merely for the reason that the developer, and the society and its members have resources in abundance, to first resort to illegalities and then by every possible means try to protect the illegalities ought not to prevent the Municipal Corporation to take an appropriate action as the law mandates,' the HC added and posted further hearing to July 29.
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
No interim relief to plea challenging Kabootar khanas closure: ‘Human health paramount'
Observing that the BMC's recent crackdown on pigeon feeding at Kabootar khanas (feeding areas) took 'human health to be paramount' into consideration, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday refused to grant ad-interim relief to the petitioners challenging the closure of such areas. The HC, while noting that rights of humans and animals should be balanced, refused to pass an interim order permitting feeding pigeons twice a day pending hearing of the plea. The Court however directed that no old heritage Kabootar khanas can be demolished till further orders. Earlier this month, the Maharashtra government had directed BMC to close Kabootar khanas in the city citing serious health hazards due to pigeon droppings and feathers. A division bench of Justices Girish S Kulkarni and Arif S Doctor was hearing a writ plea filed by animal rights activist Pallavi Sachin Patil along with Sneha Deepak Visaria and Savita Mahajan, who sought direction to restrain BMC from demolishing Kabootar khanas/feeding areas for pigeons and to ensure that the petitioners and other citizens are not prevented from feeding pigeons. The plea also sought direction to BMC to restore the 'status quo' with respect to demolished or damaged kabootar khanas. Pending the plea's hearing, the petitioner sought a stay on BMC's 'illegal actions' with respect to the demolition of such feeding areas. 'BMC has material that citizens are affected. Medical science has progressed and there are evidence…It has happened in England, where some old people have died. We don't know what kind of lungs we have now. There are children and senior citizens. Why not adhere to the policy?' the HC orally questioned the petitioner's lawyer. Advocate Harish Pandya for the petitioner argued that even birds have the right to life and are required to be fed. Justice Kulkarni responded, 'There is an issue of concern all over… particularly at such a place (kabootar khana). It is becoming some kind of pandemic as a number of such places come up. KEM Hospital and other Municipal Hospitals have material as they deal with regular visits of persons affected with such diseases.' The judge went on to remark, 'While we recognise animal rights, we also have to put human rights on a high pedestal… You cannot put animal rights over human rights… rights of animals and humans are required to be balanced… We will have to examine whether it (balancing) is not done in the present decision. The corporation had not taken such a decision so far and now they had to because a lot of thought went into it. The whole idea is not to get these pigeons at one place.' Pandya argued that BMC acted in aa 'highhanded and arbitrary manner,' and sought interim relief to feed the pigeons at designated places twice a day so that 'they shall not die of thirst and hunger'. 'This is not a correct stand… that all pigeons in Mumbai go to Kabootar khana. You will find them everywhere… even in the HC corridor… Do you want us to say that pigeons will die if they do not visit Kabootar khana? They are surviving by themselves but you want to feed them because they gather at one place in Dadar area and are only concerned with them,' Justice Kulkarni orally remarked. 'There has to be a logic to your argument… Are you going to feed thousands and lakhs of pigeons? Who said pigeons depend only on your feeding? This is the rainy season so there is no shortage of water… We are conscious of animal rights and they should be balanced… How can they (animal rights) be overwhelming when public health is concerned? Their congregation should be stopped is what they (authorities) are saying,' the judges added. 'In view of the policy now sought to be implemented by the Municipal Corporation considering human health to be paramount, we are not inclined to grant any ad-interim order at this stage… Till the adjourned date of hearing, the old heritage kabootar khanas may not be demolished,' the HC noted. The bench directed the state government, BMC, Animal Welfare Boards of India and Maharashtra Police to file their affidavits in reply along with the response of Dean of civic-run KEM Hospital on health hazards before the next date of hearing on July 23.
Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Indian Express
‘Gross abuse of environmental laws': Bombay HC expresses shock over lack of drainage facilities in Thane's Kulgaon-Badlapur municipality
The Bombay High Court, earlier this week, expressed shock over the lack of a drainage system and sewerage facilities in the Thane district's Kulgaon-Badlapur municipal area that has nearly 5 lakh population leading to pollution of the Ulhas river. The court observed that untreated waste being discharged into the Ulhas river can't be tolerated and as it amounted to 'gross abuse of environmental laws'. Noting that there was no sewerage treatment plant (STP) or proper sewerage line in the Kulgaon-Badlapur Municipal Council area, the court ordered the Thane district collector to inspect the area on July 12 and 13 and check the overall hygiene conditions in the municipal area and submit a report within a week. A Division Bench of Justices Girish S Kulkarni and Arif S Doctor on July 8 passed an order on a plea objecting to constructions in Badlapur by developer 'A Plus Lifespace', where Trishul Golden Ville Cooperative Housing Society is situated. The petitioner, Yashwant Anna Bhoir, was aggrieved by the alleged nuisance created by sewage water drained in his adjoining land belonging to the said housing complex. Bhoir claimed that the municipal council had illegally granted an Occupation Certificate (OC) for the construction without providing the basic requirements of linking the sewer outlet to the building to a sewer line. Instead, the OC was granted merely based on a small septic tank provided for a large housing complex. The HC noted it was 'really surprising' that the Chief Officer (CO) of the municipal council accepted this to be in compliance with the requirements and proceeded to grant OC. 'We, prima facie, find that there is a serious non-compliance and/or dereliction of the responsibilities and obligations on the part of the municipal council in granting such Occupation Certificate,' it noted. The High Court directed the civic body, housing society, and developer to specify corrective steps and warned that exemplary damages may be imposed on the developer for any legal non-compliance, if found guilty of non-compliance. 'We permit the developer to gather some wisdom and make all attempts to restore the health and hygiene, qua the complaint as made by the petitioner,' the HC noted. The court directed the developer to carry out rectification measures and instructed the civic body to promptly approve them so that further public nuisance is prevented. Regarding the absence of drainage or sewerage facilities in the civic body, the court said, 'This is something which would shock the conscience of the court. Such a large city not having a proper sewerage line and also not having an STP, and that the municipal sewerage of all kinds are being discharged into the river and polluting the river, can never be tolerated. It is a gross abuse of the environmental laws,' the Bench recorded in its order. The HC posted the matter to July 17. Bhoir was represented by advocates Avinash Fatangare and Archana Shelar in the High Court.
Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Shocking that well-placed educated persons ‘illegally' reside in Tardeo high-rise risking lives, BMC can't shut eyes: HC
The Bombay High Court on Thursday expressed 'shock' over how 'well-placed educated' persons continue to reside 'illegally' in the 34-storey high-rise in Tardeo in south Mumbai having no fire NOC and part-Occupation Certificate (OC), by putting lives of their families in risk. The HC questioned BMC whether it was going to 'shut its eyes' to the violations and 'casually' consider the issue. It asked the civic body to file an affidavit detailing an action proposed by it against the violations and steps to be taken against such occupiers, after which it will pass an order which will set precedent for such buildings across the city. A bench of Justices Girish S Kulkarni and Arif S Doctor was hearing a batch of pleas pertaining to the tower of Willingdon View Cooperative Housing Society, Tulsiwadi, Tardeo occupied by 50 flat purchasers of total 62 flats. On June 30, the HC had noted that there were 'glaring illegalities' in the building as it did not have any fire NOC or any approval from the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) of the BMC and there was no Occupation Certificate (OC) granted for nearly half of the floors (from 17 to 34). The HC had slammed the BMC for failing to take drastic action against 'daylight violations' and had said that prima facie the families were living 'illegally' at their own risk and consequences. On Thursday, senior advocate S U Kamdar for BMC submitted that as far as fire NOC was concerned, there cannot be any 'compromise' or 'regularisation' and the society will have to remove the offending portions and correct the same as per fire requirement. He added that in case of OC, certain approvals are required to be availed from Commissioner, after which there can be a regularisation if permissible. 'If fire NOC is non-negotiable, then what would be the status of the present residents? It is a 'serious issue' on which we really want to pass appropriate orders. What would be the stand of the corporation on a building which is being occupied without fire NOC? What should be the status of all such occupiers and what steps should be taken? Can they continue to reside? This is going to set an example to all those buildings and high-rises across the city,' the bench orally remarked. The judges added, 'We want to hear from the BMC whether it should consider this casually by saying that you (occupiers) please continue… Is BMC going to shut your eyes or are going to take some action? We want BMC to be impeccable in implementing rules and regulations.' Kamdar said that BMC had taken action and had issued several notices to the society. 'We want a statement on affidavit as to what should be done as on date when the fire NOC is not there. If clear stand is not there, we will interpret that it is a tacit approval and this appears to be the general policy of the Municipal Corporation and all buildings which are occupied without fire NOC, they can continue to do so and lives of the people can be risked in this manner,' the bench said. 'They (occupiers) are a society of well-placed educated people who continue to reside in a building, which poses such a grave risk to the lives of their families…it is shocking. We are concerned with a larger issue…. We are not going to permit any illegality to happen in any building. Because, things ought not to be looking as if it is beyond a municipal corporation to handle this situation in the city. Every time it should give an impression that SRA, MHADA, BMC or other municipal corporations are least bothered about law and everything comes to the court,' the bench added. It said it would not permit occupation without OC and suggested the flat owners make 'alternative arrangements for temporary residence.' The HC posted the matter to July 10.
