SC junks WB BJP's plea challenging ban on loudspeakers' use

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a plea of the West Bengal unit of BJP that set aside the Calcutta High Court's 2013 order, which had put a ban on use of loudspeakers in the residential areas in the state, stating that studies of children were more important than election campaigning.

The West Bengal unit of BJP had filed the plea, claiming that it was an attempt by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government to "muzzle" its voice and "violated" the party's constitutional right to garner public support ahead of the coming Lok Sabha elections. The elections are slated to be held in April-May, according to reports.

The setback by the BJP comes amid the party's bitter fight with the TMC in the run-up to the general elections.

The ruling BJP-led central government and Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government were recently locked in a legal battle in the top court over the former's proposed 'rath yatra' in different parts of West Bengal. The BJP's rallies were not given permission by the state government, asserting that it would create law and order problems in the state.

A full-blown face-off between the TMC government and the Centre erupted after a team of CBI moved to arrest Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar on February 3. The central investigative agency officials were denied entry to the top cop's residence and were detained briefly too.

Escalating her confrontation with the Centre, Banerjee started her 'Save the Constitution' dharna on the same evening to protest against what the TMC called a 'coup' by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre.

Banerjee ended her sit-in protest after three days, saying that she would take her fight against the central government to Delhi in the coming days.