Mahim fair: HC raps cops over noise rules violations

Ruling that “no breach of noise pollution norms in the city will be tolerated,” no matter what the occasion, the Bombay high court on Friday issued showcause notices of contempt against the senior police inspector of the Mahim police station, and assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Mahim division, for using loudspeakers inside the police station compound — a silence zone — during the Mahim Dargah Urus (Mahim Fair) in December.

Justices Abhay S Oka and A K police’s conduct was a “gross breach of the high court’s judgments and orders” and that it was a “fit case” for taking action against the police officers who should have been the implement

The high court benc the state government to the court of the action it proposes to take against these officers over the violations.

The court also dismissed the

e ea ers saying that “the permission that was granted to the police was not for use of loudspeakers within the police station compound but only to allow the particular route.”

HT was the first to report the incident on December 13 last year that the inaugural procession at the Mahim Fair was as loud as 117.3 decibel (db) (between 2.15pm and 3pm) — which is equivalent to the sound of a rock drilling machine.

The procession was carried out by the Mumbai police, the enforcement authority against noise pollution violations, near Mahim police station.

The high court has now directed the two police officers to respond to the notices by June 9 this year and the state to file its