PANAJI
The Goa government is considering approaching the Supreme Court with a review petition to seek relaxation of the 10 pm restriction on playing music, particularly for beach shacks, restaurants, and outdoor wedding venues.
At the same time, the government will explore whether the sound restrictions beyond 10pm can be relaxed by amending the law/notification, for tourism-related events and businesses, local weddings, and other functions, while staying within the legal framework and without violating the Supreme Court verdict.
The House on Friday witnessed a healthy debate on lifting the prohibition imposed on playing music beyond 10 pm. The Ruling as well as Opposition benches were unanimous to provide relief to the local tourism-related business and weddings by allowing music up to 12 am or 1 am.
Environment Minister Alexio Sequeira stated that the government is consulting senior legal experts in Delhi to explore the possibility of filing a petition seeking review of the Supreme Court’s 2005 verdict. “We will file review petition accordingly. The government is also serious on the matter,” he said informing that the State had made two representations to the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) seeking relaxation.
Later, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also addressed the issue, highlighting the need to safeguard the State’s tourism industry and traditional celebrations. “We are examining whether music can be allowed till 1 am in specific cases such as weddings and at hospitality venues like shacks and restaurants. We don’t want tourism to suffer,” he said.
However, the CM clarified that the difficulty lies not in granting such permissions, but in managing repeated objections raised by environmental activists. “This is our main challenge. We’re working on a solution that complies with the law, as we cannot override the Supreme Court's ruling,” Sawant added.
For events inside closed premises where no one outside is getting disturbed, no one will stop the music,” he said in response to complaints from MLAs about police intervention during private functions.
Congress MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira brought to the notice of the House that seeking review without changing the law that is without amending the notification will have no standing in the SC. “The Supreme Court’s verdict came at the backdrop of the law or notification. So Court will ask you to first amend your own law,” he said.
The MLA recommended that the government make a proposal to the Union Ministry to amend the notification and grant relaxation to traditional festivals, weddings and other local business to play music beyond 10 pm but up to 12 am or 1 am with reduced decibel.
The issue was raised by GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai during Question Hour, wherein he sought to know the impact on the tourism industry due to the restrictions. He said that while the government has not done any assessment of the impact, according to him the impact is around Rs 670 cr and can go up to Rs 1020 cr annually.
He brought to the notice of the House that the Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav declined Goa’s request for relaxation stating that the same is as per WHO guidelines and SC 2005 verdict.
Sardesai pointed out that in Bangalore, the Karnataka government has granted relaxation to local business to allow music till 1 pm. He was backed by the Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao.
