Bombay HC makes permission mandatory for loudspeakers at public events

The Bombay High Court has ruled in an important order that permission from the concerned authorities will be mandatory before installing loudspeakers at any religious, cultural, political or social event. The court said that rules will have to be strictly followed to protect people's right to live in peace and to control noise pollution.

The Bombay High Court took serious suo motu cognisance of noise pollution caused by DJs, loudspeakers and dhol-tasha during Ganeshotsav. The court asked on what basis permission is given for these sound systems, and filed a suo motu petition on the matter.

A bench of Justice Girish Kulkarni and Justice Neela Gokhale summoned Advocate General Milind Sathe and sought a response from the government. The bench said it had no objection to any religious festival, but objected to the market activity and revelry going on in the name of the festival. The court directed the government to clarify its stand on the matter. The hearing of this petition has been fixed for Tuesday afternoon.

A public interest litigation highlighting the clash between religious mandals and the urban section over this issue in Pune was pending before the court. Before the start of proceedings on Monday, Justice Girish Kulkarni and Justice Neela Gokhale summoned Advocate General Milind Sathe and the registrar. As soon as Advocate Sathe arrived, the bench fired a volley of questions and expressed concern about the noise generated during processions.

As per the court's order, there will be a strict ban on the use of loudspeakers within a 100 metre radius of hospitals, schools, colleges and court premises, which are considered silence zones. Apart from this, it will be mandatory to follow the prescribed decibel limit at all other public places as well.

The court also said in its order that citizens have the right to live in peace and be free from noise pollution under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The Bombay High Court delivered this ruling keeping this right in mind.