The Uttar Pradesh government has banned the unauthorized use of loudspeakers and public address systems at religious and public places across the state. Setting January 15 as the deadline for obtaining permission, the government has warned that all such loudspeakers will be removed by January 20.
The move comes after the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, on December 20, asked the state government whether written permission was obtained from the concerned authorities before loudspeakers or public address systems were installed at religious places like mosques, temples, churches and gurudwaras.
District magistrates, senior superintendents of police and superintendents of police, State Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar has asked them to form teams, comprising revenue and police officials in their respective districts, are directed to identify religious and public places where unauthorised loudspeakers and public address systems are being used.
“The direction also requires managers of religious and public places to obtain permission for putting up loudspeakers or any public address system before January 15. If they fail to do so, they will face action under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000,” said UP’s Secretary (Home) Bhagwan Swaroop.
The loudspeakers installed in public places cannot have sound level more than 10 decibels above ambient noise level at the periphery of a public place and 5 decibels above ambient noise level at the periphery of a private place, according to officials.
All district officials have also been asked to ensure that the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 are followed during all processions and marriage functions. The district magistrates have been told to give information on the action taken in case the rules are flouted.
“We have directed all district magistrates, senior superintendents of police and superintendents of police to file the report by January 22,” said Swaroop.
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It is encouraging to notice that CM of UP, Yogi Adityanath is able and willing to take steps that may not go down well in certain section of the ethnic minorities but is beneficial to every one, whether it is noise pollution, unauthorized public meetings or to use of roads and other open public places for praying and other religious functions, without obtaining permission. This may affect 9 day Navratri celebrations. But as it is mostly celebrated at night and with police permission, it is the right way forward.
good
Very good step.
Another great initiative on the lines of what Sonu Nigam once complained about. The curse of excessive dB levels wherever one goes in India especially of the religious nature can be quite distracting and clearly a nuisance. Yes there are bound to be protests from certain section of the populace as they think the promotion of their religion is more important than living in a civic society. I wonder whether such law although in existence is actually applied in the UK, the other day I was horrified to hear very high pitch loudspeaker as I came out of Whitechapel station from the same kind of people and now sadly in Ilford town centre. Is there any connection between Labour taking power in Redbridge council and such blatant permission to allow religious propagation right next to the Town Hall