High Court disposes of PIL on lit fest

Chandigarh, November 15

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) against organising a literature fest in the city’s silence zone, after documents pertaining to permissions for the programmes were placed before its Bench. The two-day literature fest will be held at Lake Club from November 17. The area is part of the silence zone.

The Bench of Chief Justice Krishna Murari and Justice Arun Palli had on Wednesday sought a reply from the Chandigarh Administration on the PIL filed by Taruni Gandhi. She was seeking directions to the authorities to adhere to the Noise Pollution Regulation and Control Rules, 2000, and Environment Protection Act,1986, especially in areas designated silence zones. The PIL added the officers concerned were required to be held guilty for violating the rules.

Her counsel had argued that authorities were misusing power. It was mentioned that on January 19, 2005, the Chandigarh Administration had notified certain areas as silence zones. Institutions in the area were allowed sound amplification systems audible only within the premises.— TNS