HC Questions Loud Celebrations On Apr 14, Seeks Accountability From Organisers The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Tuesday raised serious concerns over the loud celebrations held at Samvidhan Square on April 14 to mark Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s birth anniversary. The court questioned whether such events aligned with the constitutional values espoused by Dr. Ambedkar and directed authorities to investigate the organizers and the city police for accountability. The celebrations, which included loud slogans, high-decibel sound systems, and firecrackers, were criticized for violating noise pollution regulations and infringing on citizens’ rights under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. A division bench comprising Justices Urmila Joshi-Phalke and Nivedita Mehta heard a batch of public interest litigation (PIL) cases. The court was informed by amicus curiae Abdul Subhan that the event’s noise levels exceeded statutory limits, disrupting the rights of nearby residents. The bench emphasized that the right to live with dignity, a fundamental guarantee under the Constitution, must be upheld. It referenced Dr. Ambedkar’s philosophy, noting that social democracy requires progress without compromising the dignity of others. The court highlighted that while celebrating national figures is important, such events must reflect their ideals of equality, justice, and civic responsibility. It stressed that freedom should not be converted into license, underscoring that rights are sustained by both legal frameworks and social morality. The bench also addressed the health and ecological impacts of the celebrations, noting that late-night disturbances between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.#nagpur #bombay_high_court #samvidhan_square #dr_br_ambedkar #abudl_subhan
