Check rampant use of loudspeakers: HC

Chandigarh, January 8

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that it is the district administration’s “bounden duty” to ensure compliance of judicial directions on the use of loudspeakers.

The directions by the Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Mahesh Grover came on a petition against the use of loudspeaker at high pitch after 10 pm.

Acting on the petition, the High Court also ordered an inquiry by Patiala Deputy Commissioner into the allegations of indiscriminate use of loudspeaker at a village in Patiala district.

In her petition against the State of Punjab and other respondents, Mohinder Kaur had sought High Court’s intervention in the matter of “indiscriminate and unauthorised use of loudspeakers” at Gurudwara Shri Guru
Singh Sabha Mata Gujri Ji in Ajrawar village of Rajpura tehsil.

The petitioner had contended that the loudspeakers were being “used at a high pitch even after 10 pm”. She had claimed this was causing “disturbance to the petitioner, her family and other residents, besides being contrary to the law laid down by the Apex court with regard to such use”.

The Bench also took note of the fact that the petitioner filed representations before the Deputy Commissioner and Patiala Deputy Inspector-General of Police. “But no firm action has been taken by either of the two authorities, leaving the petitioner with no option but to move this court”.The Bench asserted: “The use of loudspeakers at particular volume at different hours stands regulated by court orders, including orders passed by the Apex Court from time to time.

“Such directions and orders, which hold the field as on date, would certainly require to be complied with by all concerned, and it is the bounden duty of the district administration to ensure such compliance.

“In such circumstances, we close this writ petition by directing the Deputy Commissioner, Patiala, to make/cause to make an inquiry with regard to the allegations made by the petitioner and if the same are found to be substantiated in any manner to issue orders to the concerned defaulters to take corrective action as mandated by law,” the court said.

“The Deputy Commissioner will act in the matter without any delay and ensure that necessary orders/directions, as may be warranted in law, are issued at an early date”.