Mumbai HC directed Maharashtra Government to set up a redressal mechanism against noise pollution

The Mumbai High Court (HC) on 13 March 2015 directed the Maharashtra government to set up a redressal mechanism for complaints filed by citizens against noise pollution levels.

The direction given by the Mumbai HC is the latest in the series of rules and judgments pertaining to noise pollution given by various courts and the Union Government respectively.

It also directed the state government to frame a policy in this regard within two months and submit a compliance report by 6 June 2015. Further it directed the state government to take prompt action before the festivals get over.

The court further said that organizers of the religious festivals do not have the right to take away the fundamental right of citizen to silence and to live in peace and comfort. Right to live peacefully is enshrined in the Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

Coming down heavily on the organizers of religious festivals who are often local politicians, the court expressed disappointment about the apathy of the police and asked the state government to facilitate filing of anonymous complaints too.

The direction was given by the division bench of Justices AS Oka and AS Gadkari while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Mahesh Bedekar. In the PIL he argued about the nuisance created by organisers of festivals through the noise pollution.