Cops have been told to ensure loudspeaker ban, govt tells HC

The court also discharged two senior police officials from contempt proceedings

Bombay High Court was on Thursday informed that the Maharashtra government has directed police officials across the state not to allow use of loudspeakers in silence zones.

The HC was also informed that the government has issued a notification regarding the same.

A Division Bench presided over by Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Vibha Kankanwadi was apprised of the fact that the government in May had issued this notification.

This comes after the Bench had issued contempt notices against two seniormost police officials of Mahim zone. The officials — Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and senior inspector — were served contempt notices for granting permission to use loudspeakers inside the Mahim police station.

Police officials had in December last year allowed the use of a band inside the police station premises while celebrating the annual Mahim dargah Urus festival. Accordingly, the Bench had issued contempt proceedings against them in April 2017.

On Thursday, the Additional Government Pleader (AGP), tendered a copy of the GR issued in May this year. The GR states that the government has directed the police officials across the state not to grant permission for using loudspeakers in areas, which are earmarked as ‘silence zones.’

The GR also states that the government has given clear directions that no permission should be granted even for celebration of religious festivals.

Taking the GR on record, Justice Oka, “We take this as an undertaking that the government will strictly comply with the norms as laid down in the Noise Pollution Rules, 2000.”

The AGP also furnished unconditional apologies of the senior police officials of Mahim zone.

The Bench then discharged the ACP and senior inspector of Mahim police from contempt proceedings that were initiated against them. Justice Oka said, “We are accepting the apology and the undertaking but we would like to clear that if any violation is repeated, then we would not hesitate to take stern action.”