Pune/New Delbhi. The Supreme Court 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 does not exceed 30 members.
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.
On August 30, NGT’s Western Zonal Bench at Pune had issued a slew of directions to implement adequate noise control measures during the Ganesh Utsav 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, emphasized that Ganesh Utsav 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.
