The Supreme Court on Friday declined to relax the ban on playing of loudspeaker and musical instruments between 2200 hours to 0600 hours during the ongoing Ganesh festival.

A bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan refused to give an early hearing to the petition filed by a Pune-based Ganesh mandal, which pleaded that noise level up to 40 decibels be allowed.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the mandal, had asked the bench to hear the matter on Monday as the festival was coming to end on September 25, the day the idol will be immersed.

He said the procession on the occasion continues throughout the night and that some relaxation should be given as a contradiction has already been pointed out in the apex court judgment in 2005 on noise pollution.

He said the apex court had said that the noise level should be at zero decibel between 2200 hours and 0600 hours, which was in conflict with the rule that permits 40 decibels.

However, the court said it could not give an urgent hearing and has to be heard in a regular course.