High Court takes suo motu note of din created by marriages

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 20

Taking suo motu cognisance of nuisance created by loud amplified music emanating from marriage palaces and private farmhouses around Chandigarh in the states of Punjab and Haryana, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the matter to be treated as a public interest litigation (PIL) for framing of guidelines, particularly in view of the impending wedding season.

The notice came soon after a marriage, stated to be that of a Kansal councillor’s son, gave city residents a sleepless night.

In his note, Justice GS Sandhawalia asserted that the Chandigarh Police, only recently, expressed their helplessness on account of the fact that they had no writ or control over the amplified music emanating from villages around the city, despite several complaints from residents, helplessly exposed to loud music till about 3.45 am on the nights of November 15-16 and 16-17. Pleas to adhere to the timing were made to the organiser, stated to be Kansal councilor Taranjit Kaur, whose son was getting married and whose function was being held.

Justice Sandhawalia added: “The issue arises that who will guard the guardians and whether such elected representatives/officers are beyond control and have total disregard for other citizens of the country and residents of the village, including residents of Chandigarh itself, and the wildlife, which is sensitive to such loud noise and seeks refuge in the sanctuaries, which are shrinking on account of human greed.”

Justice Sandhawalia directed the placing of the matter before the Chief Justice for putting it up before a Division Bench for issuance of appropriate guidelines as the nuisance levels were likely to increase in view of the forthcoming wedding season.

Justice Sandhawalia also directed the UT Senior Superintendent of Police to file an affidavit on the number of complaints received regarding the nuisance and efforts made to send appropriate communication to his counterpart, the Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police.

The SHO of the Nayagaon police station was also directed to file an affidavit on the action taken. The SHO of villages concerned in the state of Punjab was further directed to file an affidavit specifying the origin of the loud music, along with the details of the organiser of the functions on the nights of November 15-16 and 16-17.

He was also asked to specifically state the response of the organiser or the person arranging the functions for recommending appropriate action. Before parting, the Bench added that the states of Punjab and Haryana, along with the UT, through the home secretaries, would be the respondents. The deputy commissioners and the SSP of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula were also made respondents.

'Who will guard the guardians?'

"The issue arises that who will guard the guardians and whether such elected representatives/officers are beyond control and have total disregard for other citizens of the country and residents of the village, including residents of Chandigarh itself, and the wildlife, which is sensitive to such loud noise and seeks refuge in the sanctuaries, which are shrinking on account of human greed." — Justice GS Sandhawalia