Bombay HC Raises Concerns Over Holding Uddhav Thackeray's Oath Taking Ceremony At Shivaji Park

While hearing a PIL regarding permissions and approvals granted to several entities and organisations to use Shivaji Park Maidan at Dadar for activities and events other than strictly permissible in the law, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday raised some concerns ahead of Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray's oath taking ceremony at Shivaji Park, Dadar in Mumbai tomorrow.

The bench of Justice SC Dharmadhikari and Justice RI Chagla asked MCGM's lawyer KH Mahataskar –

"Just imagine what will happen to the ground and by lanes around. We will not say anything about tomorrow's ceremony, we pray nothing untoward happens tomorrow. But this will become a regular feature and everyone would want to use the ground for such purposes."

The Court also highlighted the inconvenience caused to people living nearby, especially senior citizens and kids who frequent the park and said that equipment and other material to set up the ceremony will to be brought in large trucks which will cause parking issues.

In the same PIL filed by NGO Wecom Trust, High Court had declared Shivaji Park a silence zone in 2010. The petitioner NGO has sought a declaration of the said ground as a 'playground' and prohibit use of the said ground for holding public or political rallies.

Court had also ruled in its 2010 order that such rallies or programmes can be held at the Shivaji Park only on B R Ambedkar's death anniversary), Maharashtra Foundation Day and on Republic Day. However, Maharashtra Assembly passed a resolution in 2015 increasing the number of days allowed in a year for such political and cultural rallies from 30 to 45.

Petitioners also claim that due to loudspeakers that are installed for such rallies, a lot of noise pollution is caused in the area and frequently Noise pollution Rules are flouted but no action is taken against them.

The next date of hearing is December 12.