Issue directions to curb noise pollution in religious places: Karnataka High Court to State government

"We want State Government to issue directions on curbing noise pollution in religious places, applicable to the entire State", the Karnataka High Court orally opined on Monday..A Division Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice SS Magadum further observed,."State does not have adequate number of decibel metres....what is the difficulty in issuing these directions?".The Bench made these observations while hearing a plea seeking action against illegal usage of amplifiers and loudspeakers in religious places in violation of the Noise Pollution Rules, 2000..Earlier, the Court had directed the State government to issue directions to the police machinery as well as Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to initiate action against illegal usage of amplifiers and loudspeakers in religious places in violation of the Rules. .During the hearing, the State government apprised the Court on the compliance it had made with regard to the Court's previous order. Observing that no real compliance had been made, CJ Oka said that the matter at hand was two-fold:"One is somebody is using loudspeaker without license and the other is when one is using loudspeaker in breach of the Noise Pollution Rules...By next Monday, we want some action"..Advocate BN Jagadeesha, appearing for the petitioner, apprised the Bench that sound amplifiers are being used in violation of Noise Pollution Rules at religious places.The petition filed in this regard states that Supreme Court, in the year 2005, had extensively dealt with this issue and had laid down various directions with respect to noise from loudspeakers and vehicular noise.The apex court had said that noise levels at the boundary of the public place where the loudspeaker or public address system is used, should not exceed 10 (dB) above the ambient noise standards of the area or 75 (dB), whichever is lower.Further, the petition also pointed out that the Supreme Court had directed that no one shall beat a drum or tom-tom or blow a trumpet or any sound instrument or use any sound amplifier between 10 pm to 6 am, except in case of public emergency..The matter has been adjourned to February 17.