HC gives conditional nod to hold 'garba' in Juhu Vile Parle Development silence zone

The Bombay High Court today allowed organisers to hold 'garba' dance in Navratri festival, beginning tomorrow, at Juhu Vile Parle Development Scheme (JVPD) in suburban Juhu even though the area falls under 'silence zone

The Bombay High Court today allowed organisers to hold 'garba' dance in Navratri festival, beginning tomorrow, at Juhu Vile Parle Development Scheme (JVPD) in suburban Juhu even though the area falls under 'silence zone'.

The permission was granted to Carnival Media Pvt Ltd to hold the dance every evening from September 25 to October 3, subject to certain conditions, by a bench headed by Chief Justice Mohit Shah.

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The bench asked the organisers to strictly adhere to the rules on maintaining the prescribed noise decibel levels and ensure that there is no traffic congestion in the area and residents are not disturbed.

The high court was hearing a petition filed by the organisers challenging the denial of permission by police to organise the dance on the ground that the area is a silence zone where schools and colleges are located.

Senior counsel Janak Dwarkadas, who represented the organisers, cited the guidelines by the supreme court that silence zone is applicable only during school and college working hours. However, this function was to be held during evening hours when the educational institutions do not function, he argued.

Dwarkadas also assured the court that the organisers will abide by all the rules to check noise and air pollution. The HC then directed the state government and police to follow the same rules for other organisers too.

In another petition, another bench of Justices V M Kanade and P D Kode allowed Shri Vile Parle Patidar Mandal to hold 'garba' dance on the condition that organisers follow rules on air and noise pollution.