New Delhi: on Monday , in a setback to the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Supreme Court declined its petition challenging the state government order prohibiting the use of loudspeakers during the months of February and March due to school examinations. The bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna refused to pass any order even as senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi invoked the fundamental right to reach the people.

Finding the court unmoved, Rohatgi sought the liberty of approaching the Calcutta High Court but that too was not accepted. At this, Rohatgi withdrew the petition by the party's West Bengal unit and the top court dismissed the petition as withdrawn.

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This issue arise as in fresh petition that comes close on the heels of Bengal government disallowing the party’s Rath Yatra. After the SC directive the government only permitted political meetings and rallies but according to the BJP, such notification banning loudspeakers comes with the intent that the BJP doesn’t hold any rallies or meetings before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections this year.

BJP also says that checking noise pollution especially at the time when exams are to be held in the state appears to be within legitimate purpose however a blanket ban on the use of microphones near residential areas or educational institutions virtually results in a complete ban. The BJP is engaged in a bitter fight against the TMC in the state since the 2014 Lok Sabha elections when the saffron party’s vote share increased nearly three times.

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