23 September,2026 05:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Representational image. File pic
The Bombay High Court, while banning the bursting of firecrackers on roads during festivals, criticised the Maharashtra government for painting a rosy picture and chanting the 'All is Well' mantra.
Bombay High Court further noted that the rules on noise pollution were not being implemented.
The HC stressed the need for "total restraint" on loud music and called for a more dignified and civilised way of celebrating festivals.
There was a "total laxity" on the part of the enforcement machinery in implementing the Noise Pollution
(Regulation and Control) Rules, a bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale held on Tuesday.
The Bombay High Court earlier had ordered a complete ban on loudspeakers, DJs, laser beams and bursting of firecrackers on public roads during festival processions.
The court had also taken suo motu (on its own) cognisance of the issue of severe noise and air pollution caused during processions.
Bombay High Court further remarked that such things are completely unwarranted, and festivals can be celebrated without causing noise and air pollution. It further noted that a more dignified and civilised way of having these processions and celebrations was the imminent requirement of the contemporary times.
While missing, "Are we going to get additional blessings from God by using all these loudspeakers and firecrackers? As a responsible society, we should put an end to all this. Take the Wari procession (annual pilgrimage on foot to Pandharpur) for example. It is carried out so peacefully with absolutely no loudspeakers or noise," the HC noted.
In its order made available on Wednesday, the court said it cannot accept the state government's attempt of "painting a rosy picture and reciting the mantra of 'All is well'."
"We do not agree, looking at the ground realities which have at all relevant times in the past been a matter of serious concern in successive proceedings, and there is no change in such reality of brazen violations on this count," the HC said.
The order also noted that permissions granted by the police for such processions and other general orders banning the use of firecrackers, loudspeakers, laser beams and DJs in the night remain a routine formality and are rendered ineffective by the inaction of the official machinery, thus permitting every kind of violation, as per PTI.
"It is high time that in large cities having dense populations like Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Nashik, where the majority of the citizens are made to silently suffer such brazen violations, a regime of total restraint on the playing of loud music by use of loudspeakers, dhol tashas, use of cylinders and so on needs to be completely banned, and a more dignified and civilised way of having these processions and celebrations is the imminent requirement of the contemporary times," the HC said.
The bench, while imposing a complete ban on the bursting of firecrackers on public roads, noted that none of the firecrackers openly sold has any indication of the noise decibel levels it would generate.
Bombay High Court also said, "There also appears to be no norms being implemented qua the extent of toxicity of the smoke generated upon their bursting. This, prima facie, appears to be an unregulated area," as cited by PTI.
(With inputs from PTI)
