Advocate general Anil Singh informed that the affidavit could not be filed as the chief secretary is not available in Mumbai. The court thus adjourned the hearing to July 9.
The Bombay high court on Friday gave a last chance to the Maharashtra chief secretary to file an affidavit to identify the officers who were responsible for not implementing the directives passed by the court regarding noise pollution rules and erection of mandaps and pandals on streets during festivals.
A division bench of justices AS Oka and Revati Mohite-Dere had on June 24 came down heavily on the government and ordered it to initiate contempt proceedings against those officers who failed to follow its previous orders. The court had then directed the chief secretary of the government to file an affidavit by July 3 giving the names and designations of the errant officers.
Advocate general Anil Singh informed that the affidavit could not be filed as the chief secretary is not available in Mumbai. The court thus adjourned the hearing to July 9.
The court gave the direction while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Dr Mahesh Bedekar, raising concern over the nuisance created by various organisers of religious festivals with regard to noise pollution and erection of pandals on streets and footpaths.
On the last hearing, the high court had while citing a Supreme Court judgment observed that the fundamental right of practising or professing religion did not extend to "any and every place". The HC has asked the government to frame a policy and set up a redressal mechanism by which common citizens can lodge complaints on which prompt action should be taken by authorities.
The Thane Municipal Corporation, accordingly, in an affidavit said that it has set up a toll free helpline number and email-id for citizens to lodge complaints regarding noise pollution or unauthourised structures.
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