PANJIM: Holding the Director General of Police (DGP) personally liable for repetitive noise pollution violations in the coastal belt, the High Court said it is for the top cop to consider whether the usual excuses about denials or some lip service by the police officer should be accepted or not.
The applicant represented by Adv Carlos Ferreira presented before the court evidence that loud music continues to be played by 14 establishments.
The applicant said that these establishments continue to play music in the coastal region till 10 am. The applicant also mentioned that several advertisements have been placed on record indicating that music is being played from 9.30 pm to 4 am or between 8 pm and 7 am. This means that the clubs are directly involved in playing music beyond 10 pm.
The government lawyer based upon instructions from the PI of Anjuna Police Station stated that most of these places are indoor premises where music can continue beyond 10 pm. In other cases which are outdoors, the PI states that music concludes by 10 pm.
The court observed that “the material, at least, prima facie, indicates that the police authorities are bent upon not taking action against the violators of the noise pollution rules framed by the government itself.”
The court further observed that if the DGP is indeed serious about the statements made by him in the affidavit before the High Court that all steps would be taken to ensure that this menace of noise pollution beyond 10 pm is curbed, then, possibly, this is one occasion to make good this statement. “It is for the DGP to consider whether the usual excuses about denials or some lip service by the police officer should be accepted or not,” the Division Bench said.
The court said that some action by the law must be taken by the end of the next week and a copy of the action taken report has been ordered to be furnished to the counsel for the applicant.
