Bombay High Court rejects plea seeking permission to hold dandiya festival

After local residents objected to an association holding Dandiya function at a public ground in Sion-Koliwada area, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, refused to grant permission to them. The Bombay High Court on Tuesday sided with the corporation decision and dismissed the petition filed by the organisers.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Naresh Patil and Justice Girish Kulkarni turned down the plea filed by Young Men's Association. Advocate Ashish Dubey appearing for the association argued before the court that the group has been holding the function for the last 11 years, at the D Barnabus Udyan which is located at Sardar colony.

Dubey said "The function was allowed even last year, but the the corporation has not decided on the application seeking licenses/permissions for the function, to be held from October 10 to 18.

The local ward officer while deciding on the application noted that in the year 2016, violation of noise pollution rules were found and accordingly a notice was issued to you. Further, the security deposit was confiscated. Moreover, it has received complaint letters from local residents thus permission cannot be granted this year, to hold the function.

The plea prayed for directions to the corporation to issue permission to the organisers to hold the dandiya funtion, from 7pm to 10 pm, during the Navratri festival.