Bombay High Court Bombay High CourtThe Bombay High Court Friday said the amendment to the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, by way of which the Maharashtra government had done away with existing silence zones, was, “ex-facie unconstitutional”. With the court’s decision coming during Ganeshotsav festivities in the city, the use of loudspeakers in silence zones may now attract prosecution. Under the Centre’s August 10 amendment, the state government was tasked with earmarking silence zones. Prior to the notification, silence zones in the state had been identified on the basis of a Bombay High Court ruling of 2016. The state had contended that staying the notification and bringing back the erstwhile silence zones would lead to law and order problems.

Source: Indian Express September 01, 2017 22:30 UTC