Bombay HC notice to Navi Mumbai Commissioner for overlooking orders

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has issued notice to Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar asking why contempt of court action should not be initiated against him for overlooking court orders. In the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by activist Santosh Pachlag, the court directed that all loudspeakers in mosques and other religious places should be removed. The petitioner alleged that till date no action has been taken by the police.

Last week the petitionfiled a contempt petition in the Bombay high court and brought to the notice of the court that till date there were 2,490 illegal loudspeakers which have been installed on various religious structures in the state. The petitioner also sought action against police officers who are ignoring court orders.

In July, Pachlag had filed a petition seeking action against illegal speakers on mosques in Navi Mumbai. He stated that 45 mosques wereplaying illegal speakers.

In 2016, the court, while passing the order, said that no religion would  be allowed to violate other people’s right to live in a noise-free environment. The court then directed the state to inquire into the allegations of the petitioner and directed it to remove speakers.

The petitioner requested the court to enlarge the scope of the petition and bring temples and other religion structures under the ambit of court order. He found out through an RTI query that 1,029 temples, 1,766 mosques, 84 churches and 22 gurudwaras were violating noise norms.