2 hrs ago
Bombay High Court Tightens Maharashtra Festive Noise And Pollution Rules
The Bombay High Court made new rules for noisy celebrations in Maharashtra.
Firecrackers cannot be burst on public streets and roads during festivities.
Laser lights and very bright beams are also banned in processions.
Organisers must measure how loud their sound systems are.
Their equipment must have devices that stop the sound from becoming too loud.
Officials can take away equipment when rules are broken.
Organisers may also have to pay a security deposit that they lose if they violate the rules.
The court said these steps are needed to protect people from noise, smoke, and health risks.
The Bombay High Court banned firecrackers on public streets and roads during festivities.
Laser lights, high-intensity lights, and beams were prohibited in festive processions.
Authorities must measure sound levels, seize offending devices, and prosecute violations.
Organisers may need visible decibel meters, sound limiters, and substantial security deposits.
The order requires statewide implementation and cumulative assessments of noise from multiple permissions.
- Who
- The Bombay High Court, through Justices Girish S. Kulkarni and Neela K. Gokhale, issued the directions.
- What
- The court imposed a total ban on street firecrackers and ordered measures to control festive noise, lights, and pollution.
- Where
- The directions apply across Maharashtra, including major cities such as Mumbai, Thane, Pune, and Nashik.
- When
- The order was issued on Tuesday, September 22, during Ganeshotsav celebrations.
- Why
- The court cited risks to fundamental rights, public health, air quality, road safety, and residents’ exposure to excessive noise and smoke.
Bombay High Court
Maharashtra Government Position
Enforcement of noise rules
Bombay High Court
The court said noise-pollution rules cannot be treated as nonexistent or relaxed during festivities, and that permissions cannot be routine formalities allowing violations.
Maharashtra Government Position
The state presented an “all is well” position, which the court rejected after citing ground realities and continuing violations.
Festive processions
Bombay High Court
The court called for restraint on loud music, high-watt speakers, loudspeakers, dhol tashas, cylinders, and other sources of excessive noise in densely populated cities.
Maharashtra Government Position
The article does not provide a detailed separate response from the state to the court’s proposed restrictions.
Key facts
- Street firecrackers
- Totally banned on public streets and roads during festivities.
- Procession lighting
- Laser lights, high-intensity lumen lights, and beams are prohibited.
- Sound monitoring
- Organisers must install publicly visible decibel meters and internal sound limiters.
- Security deposits
- Authorities are directed to consider deposits of at least Rs 1 lakh for groups or associations and Rs 50,000 for individuals.
- Enforcement
- Authorities may seize offending devices and pursue action under noise, environmental, explosives, and public-nuisance laws.
- Cumulative assessment
- Authorities must assess the combined noise impact of multiple approvals in a ward before granting permissions.
- Implementation
- The order must be circulated immediately to relevant authorities throughout Maharashtra.
Quotes
Bombay High Court bench
The bench of Justices Girish S Kulkarni and Neela K Gokhale hearing the suo motu PIL
“It is high time that in large cities having dense population like Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nashik, where the majority of the citizens are made to silently suffer such brazen violations, a regime of total restraint on the playing of loud music, by use of high-watt speakers, sound system, loud speakers, dhol tashas, use of cylinders etc. needs to be completely banned and a more dignified and civilised way of having these processions… is the imminent requirement of contemporary times”
indianexpress.com
“innocent persons cannot be made to suffer due to a few who create objectionable noise pollution”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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