SC refuses to entertain BJP plea challenging ban on loudspeakers in West Bengal

The Supreme Court Monday refused to entertain a plea of the West Bengal BJP seeking to overturn the 2013 ban enforced by the Mamata Banerjee government on the use of loudspeakers in the state between February and March due to the 10th and 12th board examinations.

A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan and Justice Sanjiv Khanna expressed unwillingness to allow the plea, leading senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi to withdraw it.

"Counsel for the petitioner seeks leave of this court to withdraw the writ petition. The writ petition is dismissed as withdrawn," the court said.

At the outset, the bench questioned the move of the party to assail the order saying "You are challenging an order of 2013?"
The court also did not allow the plea of Rohatgi that the party be allowed to approach the Calcutta High Court on the issue, saying ""If you want to withdraw, withdraw it. But we are not giving any liberty to approach the High Court."