Secure public ground 8212; HC

MUMBAI, JUNE 11: Despite laying down guidelines for the usage of playgrounds for marraiges and other social functions, the city continues...

MUMBAI, JUNE 11: Despite laying down guidelines for the usage of playgrounds for marraiges and other social functions, the city continues to witness gross violations where the functions turn out to be a source of nuisance to the neighbourhood. In a strongly worded order today, a division bench of Justice B N Srikrishna and Justice R M Lodha of the Bombay High Court today directed that in the case of the use of Ramlila ground at Malad E, a security deposit will be collected to guarantee that users of the ground will abide by the conditions laid down, and strict action be taken against those violating them.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police of the zone and the ward officer have also been made responsible for strict implementation of the guidelines to maintain peace in the area when functions are held on the ground.

The orders were given in a petition filed by Dhiraj Cooperative Society, one of the ten buildings surrounding the Ramlila ground, Gaushala lane, Malad E, who face nights of restlessness andirritation when functions and loudspeakers continued beyond the stipulated time period of 10 pm. Seeking relief from the nuisance, advocate K R Dhanuka argued that the residents had a right to peace and that the civic body and the police do not have the right to allow such functions to be held if they interfere with the day to day life of the residents.

The division bench of Justice Srikrishna and Justice Lodha then passed the orders in the present petition though many of these have already been passed in earlier petitions on the use of Chembur Gymkhana and the August Kranti Maidan. Accordingly: no user of the Ramlila ground in Malad E will be allowed to create nuisance for the neighbourhood.

No loudspeakers of wattage of more than 200 will be used in such functions and only box loudspeakers will be allowed. Any musical system or instrument will not be allowed beyond 10 pm.

The city police and the civic body will ensure that halogen lights or high wattage lights will be covered by wingsand will be facing away from the residential buildings.

All the lights will be put off after 10.30 pm.

All functions on the Malad ground will be allowed only after permission from the police and should not cause traffic disruption in the area.

Only a silent electrical generator will be allowed to be used and the generator will be placed in such a manner that they do not disturb the resident locality.

One BMC officer will make himself available for all the time for hearing complaints of the citizens every time such a function is allowed to be held.

The onus of maintaining the peace and order of the area will be on the police.

Permission will be granted for not more than 30 such functions throughout the year with a maximum of six such functions in the marriage season.

The construction and the removal of mandaps and pandals on the ground, including cleaning of vessels will be done only during the day and in any event not between 11 pm and 7 am.

Anundertaking will be taken from every user of the Ramlila maidan that he will abide by the stipulation.

A security deposit will be taken from him and the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the zone and the ward officer will be responsible for the strict implementation of the guidelines.