Telangana High Court: In a petition seeking directions from the Court to restrain Respondent 7 from erecting Ganesh Mandapam exactly in from of the petitioner’s residence on the public road without lawful permission, the Single Judge Bench of Shravan Kumar, J, issued guidelines to the Police and Municipal authorities to check organisers while erecting Ganesh Pandals and installing Ganesh Idols to ensure safety, public order and environmental responsibility.
Considering the objections raised by public at large, including writ petitions from a man with a pregnant wife and an old woman who would be disturbed by loud music from the pandal, the Court issued certain guidelines to the Police and Municipal authorities.
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Permissions must be obtained from local Police and Municipal authorities before installation of Ganesh idols in public places.
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The Pandals should not obstruct free flow of traffic, entrances of the houses, hospitals and emergency exits.
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Idols must be placed in community grounds or open areas designated by local bodies wherever possible.
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The power connection taken for the Pandals must be properly safeguarded to avert any fire accident.
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Rituals may be conducted within the permitted hours.
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Sound systems must be allowed only between 6 pm to 10 pm only as per The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 and the decibel level must be complied within the prescribed limits both in the day and night in the residential zones.
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Loudspeakers face must be placed away from the residential areas, hospitals, schools and old age homes and Police need to monitor sound level with decibel meters and take immediate actions on violations.
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Organizers must ensure that the traffic is not blocked and alternative routes should be planned with traffic Police.
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Adequate space to be provided for fire safety and emergency vehicles to pass.
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Any complaint by the locals should be recorded by making available help desk at the concerned Police Stations enabling the residents to report noise and nuisance.
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The authorities shall comply with the various High Court directions during the immersion processions and the organizers are responsible for cleaning the premises after rituals and immersions.
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Organisers should ensure that they should maintain eco-friendly idols and materials to reduce pollution.
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Each organizer pandal must be registered identifying the responsible persons and undertaking has to be taken to follow noise and environmental rules before granting permissions.
Thus, the Court directed the relevant authorities to follow the aforementioned guidelines for the ensuing Ganesh Festival and accordingly disposed of the present writ petition.
[Patha Sunil Kumar v. State of Telangana, W.P. No. 25355 of 2025, decided on 26-8-2025]
Advocates who appeared in this case:
For the Appellant: D Kulashekhar, Advocate
