Time limit for traditional instruments

Hon'ble Chief Minister,Shri Prithviraj Chavan 

Hon'ble Home Minister, Shri R R Patil

Mr. Chief Secretary, Shri Jayant Banthia

Madam Environment Secretary, Ms Valsa Nair Singh

Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, Shri Satya Pal Singh

Commissioner of Police Pune Shri Gulabrao Pol,







I refer to the piece in Times of India regarding extension of time beyond midnight for 

traditional' instruments. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Ganpati-festival-State-allows-Indian-instruments-beyond-deadline-on-3-immersion-days/articleshow/16288916.cms




I draw to your kind attention various Orders of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India and the Bombay High Court which specifically disallow use of any sound producing instruments after 10 pm.  The Supreme Court Order dated 17th July 2005 states in Directives II Loudspeakers: "No one shall beat a drum or tom-tom or blow a trumpet or beat or sound any instrument or use any sound amplifier at night (between 10pm and 6am) except in public emergencies."  The Hon'ble Supreme Court's Order of October 2005 relaxes the time limit for loudspeaker use only, by allowing the State Government to notify  a limited period of 2 hours (upto midnight) for a period not to exceed 15 days a year. Subsequently, this was further relaxed to allow the State Government to notify 12 days a year and 3 days at the discretion of local authorities. The Hon'ble Bombay High Court has also re iterated the implementation of Supreme Court Orders from time to time.




http://frink.machighway.com/~awaazfou/Awaaz_Foundation/Noise_Rules_and_Court_Orders/Entries/2005/10/28_Religion_is_not_a_ground_to_violate_noise_rules%3B_no_loudspeakers_in_Silence_Zones.html

http://frink.machighway.com/~awaazfou/Awaaz_Foundation/Noise_Rules_and_Court_Orders/Entries/2005/10/28_Religion_is_not_a_ground_to_violate_noise_rules%3B_no_loudspeakers_in_Silence_Zones.html

http://frink.machighway.com/~awaazfou/Awaaz_Foundation/Noise_Rules_and_Court_Orders/Entries/2006/10/5_No_time_extension_for_firecrackers.html




I hereby submit that any permissions for time extension beyond 10 pm for any instruments other than loudspeakers only would be in violation of the directives of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and the Bombay High Court and may be withdrawn immediately. 




A link to noise measurements during the Ganpati Festival 2011 

http://frink.machighway.com/~awaazfou/Awaaz_Foundation/Noise_Reports/Entries/2011/9/11_Entry_1.html  

will confirm that during the extended time period 10pm to midnight, noise levels significantly exceeded permissible decibel levels. THe maximum recorded was 105 dB with loudspeakers and with use of traditional instruments but without loudspeakers, reached a levels of 88dB, which still far exceeds the maximum permissible limit after 10 pm. Awaaz Foundation will measures noise during the Ganpati Festival and periodically during the entire festival period 2012.




Wih regards




Yours sincerely,




Sumaira Abdulali