HC gets firm on noise pollution, won’t allow loudspeakers

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 25

Holding Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh culpable for failure to adopt adequate steps for checking noise pollution from factories and even religious bodies, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued 15 commandments. Among other things, the blowing of horn has been banned in residential areas between 10 pm and 6 am. 

Temples, mosques and gurdwaras have also been prohibited from using loudspeaker and public address system without permission. The playing of musical instrument and amplifiers at night in the open has also been proscribed. The police chiefs of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh have further been directed to ensure songs glorifying liquor, wine, drugs and violence are not played even at live shows.

A blanket ban on the use of loudspeakers 15 days before and during the course of annual examinations has also been ordered. The Bench of Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Harinder Singh Sidhu made it clear that nobody in  Punjab, Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh would carry firearms to fairs, religious processions, marriage ceremonies and other public assemblage or within the precincts of any educational institution.

Justice Sharma made District Magistrates, SSPs and SPs personally responsible for ensuring compliance of the directions. He said the state governments were required to categorise places into industrial, commercial, residential and silence zones for noise standards.