SC Stays NGT Direction to Cap Number of Dhol, Tasha, Zanj Performers for Ganesh Visarjan in Pune
Debayan Roy (Bar  and  Bench) 12 September 2024
The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed a National Green Tribunal (NGT) direction to the Pune police to ensure that the total number of Dhol, Tasha, and Zanj performers in each troupe during the Ganapati Visarjan procession in Pune does not exceed 30 members (Yuva Vadya Pathak Trust v Dr Kalyani Mandke and Ors).
 
A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra passed the stay order. 
 
"(NGT) Directions will affect the ones who play Dhol, Tasha during Ganesh festival. There shall be stay on the direction number 4 by the NGT. Let them do their Dhol, Tasha. This is in the heart of Pune," the Court observed today.
 
On August 30, NGT's Western Zonal Bench at Pune had issued a slew of directions to implement adequate noise control measures during the Ganeshotsav in the city.
 
One of the directions empowered Pune police to seize Dhol, Tasha or Zanj units if the total number of performers in a troupe exceeded 30.
 
Aggrieved by the order, Yuva Vadya Pathak Trust moved the Supreme Court to challenge it through advocate Amit Pai.
 
The trust contended that the NGT's directive was passed without any enquiry or scientific analysis.
 
The plea, drafted by advocate Siddharth Chapalgaonkar, further emphasized that Ganeshotsav is currently underway, with the Visarjan procession scheduled for September 17. 
 
Therefore, the trust (appellant) had urged the top court to consider the matter urgently as otherwise, significant prejudice would be caused to the appellant and other Dhol Pathaks.
 
Subsequently, the direction with respect to limiting the number of Dhol, Tasha and Zanj performers has been stayed by the apex court.
 
Comments
iaminprabhu
6 months ago
DJ's Loudspeakers replaced with Dhol Zhaanj causing HUGE NOISE POLLUTION well above 95-100-105 dB levels casing immense trouble to Senior Citizens, Medical Patients, etc. is totally IGNORED by such judgements casing health risks !
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