Mumbai: Observing that civic bodies should adopt a “secular stand” while initiating action against illegal pandals and those violating noise pollution norms, the high court on Thursday directed commissioners of Thane and Panvel municipal corporations to file affidavits, explaining their failure to take action against illegal Ganpati pandals and their granting permission to some of the illegal pandals in breach of the HC order.

A division bench of justice A.S. Oka and justice A.K. Menon also said that the court was never against any religious festival but that its only contention was that these festivals be celebrated within legal boundaries.

While perusing affidavits filed by deputy municipal commissioners, the bench pointed out that Thane DMC had claimed that action could not be taken against illegal pandals as there could have been a law and order situation. The bench however noted that nowehere was it mentioned in the  affidavit that action had even been initiated.

The Mira-Bhayandar DMC claimed that permission was granted to pandals erected illegally because applications seeking permission were pending. The judges said that permission had been granted in breach of the HC order.

During hearing, advocate Ram Apte told the judges that the sudden action taken by the corporation was seen as the court preventing people from celebrating religious festivals. To this the bench said that the civic bodies should take a secular stand in such matters and they cannot go by public sentiments.