The Gujarat High Court has taken up a public-interest petition over a Garba event allegedly being held in a silent zone in Veraval, after the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) inspected the venue and issued a notice to organisers to comply with noise regulations.
Two petitioners from Gir Somnath raised the issue before the court, clarifying that they were not opposed to Garba events but were concerned about the event being organised in a designated silent zone. The GPCB told the court that the event was causing disturbance and placed its inspection report before the bench.
The board also submitted a 2000 notification issued by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, which sets out guidelines for the use of loudspeakers and public-address systems at public and private locations. Under the rules cited before the court, organisers must obtain prior permission from the district magistrate or police commissioner for such events.
The material presented before the court stated that sound systems cannot be used during the night except under permitted conditions. For the use of loudspeakers between 10 pm and midnight, advance permission must be obtained 15 days before the event. The venue in Veraval is located near a hospital and therefore falls within a silent zone, according to the report.
The noise limit cited before the court is 45 decibels during the night. Photographs of the Garba venue were also presented. The GPCB informed the court that the organisers had been served a notice requiring compliance with the applicable rules. A copy of the notice was sent to the local police as well.
The organisers were given two days to comply with the requirements. The material before the court stated that authorities must issue a notice to organisers before taking steps to shut down an event for violating the rules.
The court directed the GPCB to conduct surprise checks at the venue. It observed that the issue was not confined to Veraval but had implications across Gujarat, particularly during the nine days of Navratri. The court indicated that the government would need to determine how such events are organised during the festival period.
The proceedings concern the court’s consideration of the petitions and the enforcement of existing noise regulations. The GPCB’s surprise checks and the organisers’ compliance with the notice are the next immediate steps in the case.
