High Court bans loudspeakers in public in Punjab, Haryana & Chandigarh
Loud and Clear: Court issues a slew of strict guidelines to curb noise pollution and celebratory firing
Places of worship in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh cannot use loudspeakers and public address systems without the written permission of authorities, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has said in a directive, which can be a template worth emulating across the country.The court has ordered a complete ban on loudspeakers in public places and said no music system will be allowed between 10 pm and 6 am in residential areas. During day time, these acoustic devices can be used provided the sound level is kept to 10 decibels.The strict measures expand to many other areas. For instance, the HC has ordered the police to ensure that no songs are played glorifying liquor, drugs and violence, even in live shows.No one shall carry a firearm to a fair, religious procession or marriage procession or the campus of an educational institution, said the court. Several instances of people getting killed or wounded during celebratory firing are reported from Punjab and Haryana every year.
No Daaru & Drugs In Songs |
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| No songs to be played glorifying liquor, drugs and violence, even in live shows |
| No firearm allowed inside campuses of educational institutions |
| Temple, mosques and gurudwaras must take written permission from authorities to use loudspeakers |
The orders came on a bunch of petitions seeking enforcement of regulations on noise pollution and ban on songs promoting "vulgarity" and gun culture.The court, however, has relaxed the rules for a period of 15 days in a year for religious and cultural programmes, allowing loudspeakers from 10 pm to midnight."The two states and UT are directed to ensure that loudspeakers or public address systems are not used between 10 pm to 6 am, except between 10 pm to 12 am during any cultural or religious festive occasion of a limited duration not exceeding 15 days in all during a calendar year, that too, the noise level shall not exceed 10dB(A) above the ambient noise standards for the area," said the bench.
OPINION |
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| ‘It depends on implementation’ |
| If one reads this order closely, a majority of the points were already part of the orders of the Supreme Court in 2005. Unfortunately, none of them is implemented in any states, including Maharashtra. The blanket ban on loudspeakers 15 days before and during examinations is welcome. Any court order that asks a state to curb noise pollution is important as noise pollution impacts public health. It’s also important that people should ensure that the norms are implemented by monitoring noise levels and reporting violations to the authorities as well as courts. —Sumaira Abdulali, anti-noise pollution crusader |
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