Home / Crime and Justice / Court Lashes Police Over Uncontrolled Navratri Noise
Court Lashes Police Over Uncontrolled Navratri Noise
27 Oct
Summary
- High court expresses dismay over unchecked noise pollution during Navratri.
- Court orders fresh publication of silence zones and noise device deployment.
- Garbage trucks must reduce loudspeaker volume to permissible decibel limits.
The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh high court has expressed strong disapproval regarding the unbridled noise pollution experienced during the recent Navratri and Dussehra celebrations, noting that police appeared "totally helpless" to control it. The court has directed authorities to submit records of noise-related complaints filed at city police stations. Furthermore, the state has been ordered to republish its official list of silence zones and to equip every police station in Indore with noise-measuring devices.
In a bid to curb ongoing disturbances, the court also mandated that each Station House Officer (SHO) appoint two volunteers from every ward to report noise violations. The Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has been specifically instructed to reduce the volume of its garbage collection vans' loudspeakers, ensuring they adhere to permissible decibel limits. While acknowledging the need to inform citizens of the vans' arrival, the court emphasized that the current sound levels exceed legal norms.
The court stressed the need for proper compliance regarding silence zones, stating that merely referencing newspaper clippings was insufficient. The list must be published in widely circulated newspapers, inviting suggestions for additional silence zones. It was noted that despite the availability of sound-measuring devices, they had not been utilized effectively for public action. Therefore, the court directed that these devices be provided to police personnel on active duty to facilitate prompt responses to noise complaints.
To address public hesitation in reporting violations, the bench suggested that ward volunteers inform the police about offenders and record evidence via mobile phones. The court expressed hope that collaborative efforts would lead to significant positive change and peace within the city. A compliance report from all respondent authorities, including the state, police, pollution control board, and local bodies, is expected within three weeks, with the next hearing scheduled for the week commencing November 23.
