State tells HC there are no silence zones in the state
Brace for a noisy Ganesh festival this year as the Maharashtra government has told the Bombay High Court on Tuesday, just two days before the celebrations, that there are no ‘silence zones’ in the city and beyond. Hence, there is no question of fixing the decibel levels of loudspeakers that have become an integral part of the festival.
The court wanted to know why the state government is so keen on allowing the use of loudspeakers during Ganpati fest.
The submission by the government was made by Advocate-General Ashutosh Kumbhkoni, who tried to justify the government’s move to amend the Noise Pollution Rules, 2000.
According to the amendment, no area can be considered a silence zone unless notified by the state.
The amendment sought to get around a Bombay High Court ruling that had banned the use of loudspeakers in the city’s silence zones. The judges had even asked the government to take action against Ganpati mandals that violate this order.
On Tuesday, the government informed a division Bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Riyaz Chagla that there are no silence zones in the state as of now, but that the state is mulling to notify them soon. “As of now there are no silence zones in the state,” Kumbhkoni said, adding, “But it should not be taken as if we are trying to overrule this court. We just want to make this court’s orders workable.”
Irked by the submissions, Justice Oka said, “Why is the government so keen to allow the use of loudspeakers in silence zones…We also want to know that since there are no silence zones now, what would be the permissible decibel levels. Does it means that you will allow use of loudspeakers everywhere — outside schools, hospitals, courts?”
The government has filed another affidavit revealing the steps it has taken to comply with the HC’s ruling. But the judges weren’t impressed. “We are not at all satisfied by this affidavit as there is hardly any compliance. It seems that you are taking this court for granted,” Justice Oka said.
The Bench will continue hearing the case Wednesday, after which some order is expected.