Allahabad High Court: The affidavit filed and an order issued by the government of U.P. in pursuance of an earlier order of the Court, taking steps to curb noise pollution caused by the use of loud speakers, was found unsatisfactory by a Division Bench comprising of Vikram Nath and Abdul Moin, JJ.
The Court took serious concern of the rampant misuse of loudspeakers at religious places and in marriage and other processions. The Court was concerned about the health consequences of such noise pollution on the community. In pursuance of an earlier order of the Court, government of U.P. issued an order where under permissions were granted for the use of loudspeakers. However, the Court observed that the said order was toothless and gave a blanket permission without any check or control to the persons seeking to use loudspeakers. Such blanket permission was simply an attempt for a sham compliance of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.
The Court referring to the suggestions regarding making it necessary for persons who install loudspeakers to additionally install a noise level checking machine, directed the State Government to make a serious endeavor to tackle the menace of noise pollution and file an improved affidavit within four weeks regarding steps to be taken to deal with the situation. [Moti Lal Yadav v. State of U.P., PIL Civil No. 24981 of 2017, order dated 13-02-2018]
