# Bombay High Court orders Maharashtra to explain DJ noise during Ganesh festival 2026-09-21T19:21:36+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets The Bombay High Court on Monday took suo motu cognisance of noise pollution from DJs and loudspeakers during Ganesh Chaturthi processions across Maharashtra. A bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale said it found no logic in granting permission for loud music up to midnight when standard rules allow it only until 10 pm. The court ordered Advocate General Milind Sathe to furnish by Tuesday details of laws in place, compliance levels, and action taken against violators. The court underlined that celebrations cannot come at the cost of legal rights of citizens, including senior citizens and students. It also flagged the possibility of a total ban on firecrackers due to deteriorating air quality. A separate PIL on the same issue is already pending before a division bench led by the Chief Justice. The matter will be heard again on Tuesday. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The three sources agree on facts, but their framing differs subtly. LiveLaw leads with the court taking action and orders to the government, a neutral legal-report approach. Times Now leads with the court's statement that it is 'not against any religion', foregrounding a defensive framing against anticipated religious backlash, and adds the firecracker ban contemplation, which could be read as sensationalist. Times of India leads with the 'no logic in permissions' quote, spotlighting the regulatory contradiction. All three omit the underlying enforcement gap that the court itself questioned: permitted loudspeaker hours are routinely flouted. The balanced reading is that the court is forcing state machinery to answer a compliance question it has long evaded, with the firecracker issue still preliminary. The state government's reply on Tuesday will show whether enforcement exists on paper only. ## Coverage - livelaw.in (neutral report) Leads with court order to government, neutral legal coverage - timesnownews.com (sensationalist) Leads with court saying not against religion, then firecracker ban speculation - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) Leads with court quote on illogical midnight permissions Tags: Bombay High Court, Ganesh Chaturthi, Girish Kulkarni, Maharashtra, Neela Gokhale Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/bombay-hc-takes-suo-motu-notice-of-noise-from-religious-processions/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/bombay-hc-takes-suo-motu-notice-of-noise-from-religious-processions/#story-in-brief