Mumbai: The Bombay high court has discharged its contempt proceedings against various municipal commissioners of the state, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Navi Mumbai for not implementing its order and allowing illegal pandals on the roads during last year’s festival season.
A division bench consisting of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Riyaz Chagala was hearing a bunch of PILs objecting against the noise pollution and illegal pandals during the festival seasons. The PIL also sought strict implementation of noise pollution rules and action against illegal pandals.
Last year, the petitioners mentioned that that despite its orders, several illegal pandals were erected throughout the city during Ganesh and Navaratri festivals. Also, BMC had received complaints on 42 illegal pandals but failed to take action.
The court then issued show cause notice to Ajoy Mehta asking why contempt of court action should not initiated against you. In his reply to the notice, the commissioner had submitted that failure to not take action was not intentional. Justice Oka warned that if the BMC fails to act against illegal pandals or to implement noise pollution rule during festivals in future, the court will take stern action against it. “The contempt notice issued to commissioner is hereby discharged since the breaches were not intentional,” the court said.
