Punjab Gurdwaras Voluntarily Start Switching Off Loudspeakers Following Akal Takht Edict

Following an Akal Takht meeting on 14 June, Jathedars of all five Takhts of the Sikh faith had directed gurdwaras to “keep the sound of speakers within their premises” following a study by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB).

Gurdwaras in Punjab have reportedly begun to dismantle their speaker systems following the edict, Tribune India has reported.

The study by PPCB had revealed that the noise levels around religious structures were in fact two to three times higher than the permissible limit during several times of the day.

Following the study’s findings, the Akal Takht had issued the edict to turn off loudspeakers during Ardas, the Sikh prayer, and to keep the sound within building premises. Most of the gurdwaras voluntarily follow the edicts issued by the Sikh body.

The PPCB also requested people attending the prayers to impress the Takht edict upon gurdwaras. The pollution control body will now ask other religious bodies too to help keep noise pollution under check.

Loudspeakers on religious buildings like mosques, temples and gurdwaras has been an issue, with the police generally reluctant in enforcing noise control laws over them. The sound systems over several bodies hence enjoy a free run irrespective of the public nuisance being created.