Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the police authorities to ensure strict enforcement of commissioner Vishwas Nangre Patil ’s Sept 2 notification restricting use of DJs and other prohibited sound systems during the festival season.
Court Orders Police Accountability for Noise Pollution Enforcement
A division bench of the Bombay High Court, led by Justices Urmila Joshi-Phalke and Raj Wakode, has mandated the issuance of a new notification assigning specific responsibilities to deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) and assistant commissioners of police (ACPs) regarding compliance with a prior order from the Commissioner of Police (CP) aimed at curbing noise pollution in the city. The court emphasized that these officers will be held accountable for any violations occurring in their jurisdictions.
This directive was issued during the hearing of a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) concerning rising noise pollution levels, alongside a pending PIL filed by Bhupendra Wasnik. The bench highlighted the necessity for the prohibitory order to be actively enforced rather than remaining a theoretical measure. Legal representatives Ashutosh Dharmadhikari and Tushar Mandlekar appeared for the petitioners, while Abdul Subhan served as amicus curiae. The case is set to be reviewed again on October 1.