Yogi Adityanath Government Bans Use Of Loudspeakers At Religious Places Without Permission

Unauthorised use of loudspeakers and public address systems at religious and public places in Uttar Pradesh was on Sunday (8 January) banned by the Yogi Adityanath government, the Indian Express has reported.

The decision was taken after the Allahabad High Court ordered the removal of loudspeakers from religious places to curb noise pollution. On 20 December, the Lucknow bench of the high court had the state government to report what action has been taken against such unauthorised installations.

The permission to use loudspeakers can be obtained by 15 January and those installed without requisite permission will be removed by authorities by 20 January. Action will also be taken against government officials who fail to ensure compliance.

“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 state’s Home Secretary Bhagwan Swaroop.

According to Swaroop, the government has asked local administrations to divided districts into industrial, commercial, residential and silence zones, and has set separate maximum limits of permissible sound levels for each area.

The use of cone-shaped loudspeakers was banned by the Supreme Court in 2005, according to the New Indian Express. However, the ban has not been enforced properly. In Tamil Nadu, the Madras High Court had in May 2016 directed the state government to ensure full compliance of the ban. The Federation of Mosques and Shariat Protection Forum had protested against the order saying the entry of police to ensure removal of loudspeakers causes harassment.

In October 2017, the Delhi High Court had banned the use of loudspeakers at a South Delhi ground during Chhath Puja.