No speakers for cops at Mahim Urs

Mumbai: The Bombay HC on Tuesday expressed its displeasure over the government’s affidavit, as it does not mention that noise pollution will not happen again during Mahim Dargah Urs.

Though the court has accepted the apology letters submitted by the two cops attached to Mahim police station, it has also asked the state to file an affidavit ensuring that from now on, concerned officers of the police station will not allow the use of loudspeakers in the police station and abide by the HC order.

The division bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka has also asked the Maharashtra government to file a compliance report on by how much has the noise pollution level reduced in the city. The court heard the contempt petition filed by Aawaz Foundation against the Mahim Police for playing loud music in the Mahim police station premises during Urs festivities.  

When the matter came up for hearing additional government pleader Geeta Shastri placed an affidavit before the court saying that the apology on behalf of the two police officers from Mahim police station is being placed before the court.

After perusing the apology, the judges said that they were not convinced with the apology or affidavit because it does not say that such event would not happen again. The court said that through the affidavit, the state should give an assurance that loudspeakers would not be played within police jurisdiction in future during Urs.