India, Aug. 8 -- The Bombay high court on Thursday said that it had not directed the closure of kabutarkhanas but, rather, had not stayed the BMC's decision to close them. It had earlier refused to interfere with the corporation's actions though it had stayed the demolition of kabutarkhanas on July 3.

Informing the court that nothing could be more fatal than the deleterious effects of pigeons on human health, the BMC counsel asked how the steps taken by the civic body in furtherance of public good could be termed "illegal". "We have recorded opinions from doctors and experts. In view of societal health, we took the decision to close the kabutarkhanas. Can such actions be called illegal?" he asked.

Emphasising that the issue needed to be...