Court discharges cops guilty of noise pollution during Urs

Metros, Mumbai
Court discharges cops guilty of noise pollution during Urs
THE ASIAN AGE. 
Published : Jun 23, 2017, 2:56 am IST 
Updated : Jun 23, 2017, 2:55 am IST 
The activist claimed that the police used blaring loudspeakers and played music while taking out the sandal.

 Bombay High CourtMumbai: The Bombay high court on Thursday discharged two police officers from Mahim police station, who had been served contempt notices for allowing violation of noise pollution norms in the police station premises which is a silent zone. The contempt notices were issued after a NGO complained that at the time of the annual Urs festival, the policemen themselves started a procession using loudspeakers. The court discharged the officials after the state gave an undertaking that rules pertaining to silent zones would be strictly implemented and after the officers gave unconditional apologies for flouting norms.
A division bench of justices A.S. Oka and V.V. Kankanwadi was hearing a petition filed by activist Sumaira Abdulali of Awaaz Foundation, alleging that the police officials connived with revellers and flouted noise pollution norms during the Urs festival. The activist claimed that the police used blaring loudspeakers and played music while taking out the sandal (a religious custom), thereby violating noise pollution norms.
Addulali said, “The police is supposed to ensure that people do not violate pollution norms. But when policemen themselves are guilty of the same, what can be done!” After hearing the petition, the court had issued the two officers i.e. ACP Shivlan Dhobale and senior police inspector Milind Jolekar contempt notices. On Thursday however, after the counsel for the state submitted an undertaking and apology of the police officers, the court discharged the two police officers. The court said that it would issue a letter of displeasure to Dhobale and a stern warning to Jolekar if it was found that noise pollution norms had been flouted. “The state has given an undertaking and the officers have expressed regret and hence, there is no reason to continue contempt proceedings. Hence, the petition is dismissed and the officers discharged,” said the bench.


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