The Bombay High Court on Friday reserved its order on a bunch of PIls raising concern over nuisance created by organisers of religious festivals with regard to noise pollution.
The PIls, filed by Mahesh Bedekar and others, also challenged erection of pandals (makeshift structures) on the streets and footpaths.
The order was reserved by a bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka after the Centre concluded its argument on Friday.
The Centre argued that loudspeakers should not be allowed in silence zones.
The Maharashtra Government had earlier submitted that Noise Pollution Rules framed in 2,000 would have to be interpreted harmoniously, especially 5 and 6, which deal with written permission to use loudspeakers or public address system in a public place within the permitted decibel limits. This restriction is applicable to areas within silence zones.
However, this restriction would not be applicable to theatres or cinema halls or any closed premises though use of loudspeakers in such areas requires a licence, government pleader Abhinandan Vagyani had told the court.
If this rule is interpreted to mean that legislature intended to completely ban the loudspeaker or the public address system in a silence zone, whether in a closed place or in an open area, then it would lead to a situation that all cinema halls within the silence zone would have to close down, Vagyani had argued.