Mumbai High Court directs Maharashtra Government !
Installing unauthorised loudspeakers is not a fundamental right – Mumbai High Court
Mumbai – The Mumbai High Court has directed the Maharashtra Government to submit, within two weeks, a detailed report on the complaints received regarding noise pollution caused by loudspeakers at mosques and other places of worship, along with the action taken by the Police. The Court expressed displeasure that, despite repeated complaints from citizens about noise pollution caused by unauthorised loudspeakers at mosques, the Mumbai Police had failed to take action.
Advocate Reena Richard from Kandivali had repeatedly lodged complaints with Samta Nagar Police Station regarding excessive noise from a mosque’s loudspeakers during the early hours of every morning. As the Police allegedly failed to register her complaints, she filed a petition before the Mumbai High Court. The matter was heard by a Division Bench comprising Justice Ajey Gadkari and Justice Kamal Khata.
The respondents submitted that the loudspeakers were directed towards the inside of the mosque and that the sound was being played at a low decibel level. However, the petitioner disputed this claim and informed the Court that the loudspeakers were being operated at high volume within a notified silence zone. The Court thereafter issued the above directions.
Legal limits are binding on everyone – Mumbai High Court
The Court clarified that installing unauthorised loudspeakers cannot be claimed as a fundamental right by anyone. It said that all places of worship must strictly comply with the prescribed noise regulations. The Police should not forget that places of worship also fall within silence zones where applicable. Under the law, the prescribed noise limits are 65 decibels for residential areas and 55 decibels for silence zones, and these limits apply to all types of loudspeakers. Therefore, these legal limits are binding on everyone. |
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