5 Mumbai dargahs move HC against police action on loudspeakers; allege selective targeting
Mumbai, Jul 1 (PTI): Five dargahs have moved the Bombay High Court challenging the "arbitrary" action initiated by the city police against the use of loudspeakers at religious places and alleged that law enforcers were selectively targeting their community.
A bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and M M Sathaye on Tuesday issued a notice to the police on their petition and posted the matter for further hearing on July 9.
Police have launched a crackdown against the use of directional loudspeakers (devices that focus sound in a specific direction) at religious structures in Mumbai pursuant to a court order.
While the police maintained the action was being taken against loudspeakers at all religious structures, the petition filed by the five dargahs (tombs built over graves of revered religious figures like Muslim saints) claimed otherwise.
The petition claimed worshippers at these dargahs are affected by the police's "selective targeting" of mosques and dargahs. The plea challenged the notices issued to them by the police for violation of Noise Pollution Control Rules.
"The whole action is against the Muslim community and is hostile discrimination. This is in violation of fundamental rights," the petition alleged.
The plea alleged the police were acting at the behest of vested political interests.
"The entire state action is actuated by oblique motive and is therefore malicious, and should be set aside," it contended.
Every person and community has the right to practice their religion within the parameters of Noise Pollution Control Rules.
The petition maintained 'azan' is an important part of Islam and the use of loudspeakers to call people for prayer is a necessity in a city like Mumbai.
Last week, Police Commissioner Deven Bharti asserted that Mumbai was now free of directional loudspeakers at all religious structures.
The top cop, while refuting claims of selective targeting, had made it clear that religious structure of any particular community had not been singled out and stressed that the operation was conducted methodically, in line with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's directive for proper and non-arbitrary action.
This action follows an order issued by the Bombay High Court in January this year in which police were directed to take prompt action against loudspeakers violating noise pollution norms and rules.
The HC had noted that the use of loudspeakers was not considered an essential part of any religion.
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Parag fined 25 percent of match fees for vaping incident, BCCI exploring 'stringent action' on RR
New Delhi (PTI): Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag was on Thursday fined 25 per cent of his match fee for bringing the game into "disrepute" after being caught vaping on camera during the IPL game against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur.
Parag's actions during the Royals' chase on Tuesday night drew condemnation on social media.
PTI has learned that on field umpires Tanmay Srivastava and Nitin Menon had not reported the matter to match referee Amit Sharma right after the game. They only did that after seeing visual proof and Sharma found Parag guilty for a code of conduct breach as per the IPL guidelines.
The Level 1 offence carries 25 per cent deduction from match fees and one demerit point.
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"Riyan admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction imposed by the Match Referee, Amit Sharma," said the IPL in a statement.
"The BCCI is also exploring other options to initiate proceedings for stringent action against the erring team, its officials and players to ensure that the reputation of IPL remains intact," the statement added.
When PTI reached out to BCCI secretary Devajit Saika on possible action on Rajasthan Royals, he said: "As it is written clearly in the statement, we are exploring what action to take on the team. It is not decided yet."
The Indian government had banned e-cigarettes back in 2019, prohibiting their production, sale and distribution. As per the law, the offender faces imprisonment up to one year and/or a Rs one lakh fine for a first time offence.
"Article 2.21 of IPL Code of Conduct is intended to cover all types of conduct that bring the game into disrepute and which is not specifically and adequately covered by the specific offences set out elsewhere in this Code of Conduct, including Article 2.20," the IPL Code of Conduct states.
"By way of example, Article 2.21 may (depending upon the seriousness and context of the breach) prohibit, without limitation, the following: (a) public acts of misconduct; (b) unruly public behaviour; and (c) inappropriate comments which are detrimental to the interests of the game.
"When assessing the seriousness of the offence, the context of the particular situation, and whether it was deliberate, reckless, negligent, avoidable and/or accidental, shall be considered.
"Further, the person lodging the Report shall determine where on the range of severity the conduct lays (with the range of severity starting at conduct of a minor nature (and hence a Level 1 Offence) up to conduct of an extremely serious nature (and hence a Level 4 Offence)."
Since it is a Level 1 offence there was no need for a hearing.
Parag, who has not had the best of times with the bat this IPL, was seen inhaling an e-cigarette, also known as vaping, in the dressing room during the live broadcast of their game against Punjab Kings. Royals won the game to end Kings' unbeaten run in the tournament.
This is not the first controversy to hit the Royals this season. Earlier this month, team manager Romi Bhinder was fined Rs one lakh for breaching PMOA protocol after being found using his phone in the dugout.
IPL and BCCI officials involved in the conduct of the IPL termed it as a careless act in the age of social media and prying TV cameras.
Royals next host Delhi Capitals in Jaipur on Friday night.
