The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order that restricted the number of 'Dhol-Tasha-Zanj' member to 30 during Ganpati Idol Visarjan. The apex court noted that the order will seriously impact the Dhol-Tasha troupes in Pune and issued notice in the case while granting an interim stay on the NGT order.
The NGT had restricted the total number of Dhol-Tasha-Zanj members to only 30 per group along with real time monitoring of noise pollution around each Ganesh pandal. The NGT had also ordered initiatiation of criminal proceedings against the violators. The top court has only stayed this particular direction in the NGT order.
"Let them do 'dhol-tasha', it is heart of Pune," CJI DY Chandrachud said while staying NGT direction capping numbers in group performance during Ganesh festival.
Advocate Amit Pai, appearing for petitioner, told the top court that the Ganesh festival has a deep cultural significance for Pune. He further told the court that the petitioner only have problem with this particular direction among the many directions issued by NGT for controlling noise pollution during the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.
The Supreme Court agreed to hear a plea against the NGT order restricting the number of persons who can be part of a 'dhol-tasha' group involved in an idol immersion of Lord Ganesha. The plea was mentioned before a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra today morning.
The CJI took note of the submissions of a lawyer who asked how could the number of people be restricted to just 30.
He told the court that the NGT order said a 'dhol-tasha' group can have only 30 people. The advocate urged the court to hear the plea urgently as the 'Ganapati visarjan' is coming up soon.
CJI Chandrachud then told the lawyer to send an email and the papers, and the court shall look into the matter at 2 PM.
The NGT has restricted the number of people in the dhol-tasha (musical group) for Ganpati immersion to 30 to control noise pollution.
Traditionally, 'Dhol-tasha' groups have been an integral part of traditional festivals in some parts of Maharashtra. The festival of 'Ganesh Chaturthi' started on September 7 and the idol immersion takes place after 10-11 days.
Incidently, the plea comes just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday attended Ganesh Puja at Chief Justice DY Chandrachud’s residence in New Delhi.
A video of the Ganesh Chaturthi celebration at Chandrachud’s residence shows PM Modi offering prayers to the deity along with the Chief Justice and his spouse Kalpana Das.
The video shows CJI Chandrachud and his wife Kalpana Das welcoming PM Modi at their house. PM Modi is then seen participating in the puja at their residence.