Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the police authorities to ensure strict enforcement of commissioner Vishwas Nangre Patil’s Sept 2 notification restricting use of DJs and other prohibited sound systems during the festival season.A division bench comprising Justices Urmila Joshi-Phalke and Raj Wakode directed issuance of a fresh notification, specifically assigning responsibility to deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) and assistant commissioners of police (ACPs) to ensure compliance with the CP’s order within their respective jurisdictions. The bench indicated that the officers concerned would be held responsible if violations occurred in their areas.The direction came while hearing a suo motu PIL over growing noise pollution in the city, along with a pending PIL filed by Bhupendra Wasnik. The court stressed that a prohibitory order should not remain merely on paper and must be effectively enforced on the ground. Ashutosh Dharmadhikari and Tushar Mandlekar appeared for the petitioners while Abdul Subhan acted as amicus curiae. The matter is scheduled to come up next on Oct 1.On Sept 11, the bench had directed the CP to take effective measures to restrain the use of DJ systems and ensure compliance with the notification. State govt was directed to ensure compliance with the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules across Vidarbha during the festival period.The Sept 2 notification, issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, covers multi-speaker DJ systems, including top, mid and bass units, besides plasma sound systems, pressure-mid sound systems and vehicles modified to carry such equipment.The restrictions apply to organisers of various festivals and public programmes, including Ganesh mandals.
