Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday sought Shiv Sena`s reply on allegations levelled against it for flouting noise pollution norms and an order passed by the court granting the party permission to hold its annual Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai.
The party`s reply has been sought in response to an affidavit filed by NGO Wecom Trust, on whose PIL, Shivaji Park was declared a silence zone. The NGO has claimed that Shiv Sena has committed various breaches of the High Court order and noise pollution norms.
"No sound barriers were installed in order to prevent noise from going out of the ground periphery. The High Court order of October 15 granting the party permission to hold the rally clearly stated that no loud speakers should be used and distributive low voltage speakers should be installed.
However, two loudspeakers were put up on the stage itself. The decibel level on the day of the rally (October 24) was more than 70," the affidavit states.
It further alleges that the political party had barricaded only four cricket pitches on the ground, which was trampled over by the crowd and supporters were seen sitting on the pitch.
A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice NM Jamdar directed the political party to file its affidavit in response to the allegations on November 5.
The same bench had granted the party permission to hold the rally but had said it would have to look for alternate venue like the MMRDA ground in suburban Bandra for next year`s rally. Shiv Sena has been holding the rally at Shivaji Park since over 40 years.
After this year`s rally, an FIR was lodged against the party for allegedly flouting noise pollution norms.
PTI
