Noise pollution: Bombay HC rejects police apology

Mumbai: The Bombay high court refused to accept the apology from the police administration with regard to noise pollution.

The court at last hearing had asked the Mumbai police commissioner to state what action he would take against those police officers who had failed to do anything about noise violation during the Ganesh immersion process at Girgaum Chowpatty and Id processions at Mahim. To this, the commissioner responded by telling the court that the police officers concerned and the commissioner were new to the city of Mumbai.

A bench of Justices A.S. Oka and A.S. Gadkari was hearing a public interest litigation filed by the Awaaz Foundation about violation of noise rules.

On Thursday, an affidavit was filed on behalf of the Mumbai police commissioner. It stated that the commissioner as well as DCP Manjunath Shinge had both recently taken over their respective charge in Mumbai.

It stated that Shinge had done a commendable job in Gadchiroli district, which is known for its Naxalite movement. He had been given a promotion and transferred to Mumbai.

The affidavit also stated that both the officers had never worked in the city during their lifetime and hence, apologies should be accepted from them.

The court was irked with this and said, “Nobody will be spared from the action by just saying officers are new in the city. We can’t accept the apology.”

The court then gave the last chance to the police commissioner to file what action he had taken against the officers who overlooked the noise pollution during the festive season.

Last month, DCP Shinge had informed the court that he could not take action during the Id procession as it would have created a law and order problem.