Taking strict cognizance in a petition filed, the HP High court has issued show cause notices to the Shimla Sidhi Vinayak Sewa Mandal Trust, Shimla’ , District administration, MC Shimla and State pollution control board. “During the festival of ‘Ganesh- Chaturthi’ for the period of 10 years, the noise level of this Town was much beyond the permissible limit and even then neither the Pollution Control Board nor Superintendent of Police, Shimla, nor Deputy Commissioner, Shimla, took effective steps to curb this,” is being plead by a Shimla citizen Deepak Gupta in the matter.
Directing further in the matter Justice Tirlok Chauhan stated,” therefore, the organizers of this festival, ‘Sidhi Vinayak Sewa Mandal Trust, Shimla’ through its President, Vice Presidents and Secretary, are arrayed as party respondents. Let show cause notices on Form 1-A of the Contempt of Courts (Himachal Pradesh) Rules, 1996, be issued to ‘Sidhi Vinayak Sewa Mandal Trust, Shimla’ through its President, Vice Presidents and Secretary why they be not prosecuted and punished under the Contempt of Courts Act,” stated Justice Trilok Chauhan.
The court added ,” Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, Shimla, are directed to file their counter-affidavits to the affidavit filed on behalf of H.P. State Pollution Control Board (at page 312) of the paper book before the next date of hearing. In addition, the respondents along with State Pollution Control Board, are directed to furnish explanation as to why no effective steps were taken to curb the noise pollution created by the ‘Sidhi Vinayak Sewa Mandal Trust, Shimla,” directed Justice Chauhan. Further the court also directed MC Shimla to file status report, while appointing an advocate Amicus Curiae to assist the petitioner. The matter has been listed for further hearing on 25th of this month.
