Bombay High Court: No loudspeakers at Shivaji Park anymore

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Monday asked the state government to give an assurance that henceforth, it will not give permission to anyone to use loudspeakers at the Shivaji Park ground.

The court also sought assurance from the state that if anyone uses loudspeakers at Shivaji Park, the police would visit the spot and turn off the loudspeakers. The court further said violators should be booked not only under the Bombay Police Act but also under the Environment Protection Act. The high court said this while hearing a petition filed by Wecom Trust, in which the petitioner has alleged that despite the high court’s order, the police is allowing organisers to play loudspeakers.

A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Anuja Prabhudesai was hearing a petition filed by Wecom Trust, an NGO, which stated that in August 2016 the high court while giving a comprehensive order on noise pollution PILs, had said that Shivaji Park is a silence zone area and nobody can play loudspeakers in the area. The petitioner claimed that despite the HC order, the organisers of Childrens Day function, Mahaparinirvan din (Ambedkar death anniversary) and Jagannath Rath Yatra had used loudspeakers and the local police did not take action against them.

On Monday, the Shivaji Park police station tendered an unconditional apology before the court for giving given permission to use loudspeakers on December 6 (Mahaparinirvan din) despite the court’s order. They further informed the court that organisers of Childrens Day and Jagganath yatra had not taken permission.