The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea seeking stricter regulation of noise pollution and the use of laser beams during public events and festivals in Maharashtra. The plea, filed by the Akhil Bhartiya Grahak Panchayat, aimed to address concerns over environmental and public health impacts arising from unregulated noise levels and laser displays at gatherings, including religious festivals.
The bench, led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and including Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, declined to entertain the petition. They noted that significant festivals such as the Ganapati Puja have already concluded in the state. Furthermore, the justices referred to a prior ruling by the Bombay High Court, which had disposed of a similar Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on April 20. The High Court’s decision permits those aggrieved by violations to file representations directly to the concerned officials.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court bench advised the petitioner that if their concerns persist following the handling of their representation by local authorities, they may return to the apex court for further consideration.
