The Punjab and Haryana High Court has banned the use of loudspeakers or public address systems in private and public spaces, including religious places, in the two states without the written permission of authorities.

The restrictions will remain in force even during daytime and the noise level shall not exceed more than 10dB(A), the court ordered on Thursday.

The division bench of Justices Rajiv Sharma and Harinder Singh Sidhu directed the two states and Chandigarh to ensure that loudspeakers, public address systems, musical instruments and sound amplifiers are not played at night except in auditoria, conference rooms, community halls, banquet halls as per norms laid down under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.

"The two states and UT are directed to ensure that loudspeakers or public address systems are not used between 10 pm to 6 am, except between 10 pm to 12 am during any cultural or religious festive occasion of a limited duration not exceeding 15 days in all during a calendar year, that too, the noise level shall not exceed 10dB(A) above the ambient noise standards for the area," the bench ordered.

The deputy commissioners of Punjab, Haryana and Union Territory, Chandigarh, have been directed to ensure that no loudspeakers are permitted 15 days before and during annual examinations.

The division bench passed these orders while disposing of a bunch of petitions seeking enforcement of regulations on noise pollution and ban on songs promoting "vulgarity" and gun culture.

"The peripheral noise level of a privately owned sound system or a sound producing instrument shall not, at the boundary of the private place, exceed by more than 5dB," the bench said in its judgment.

The authorities have been directed to frequently visit and monitor the public and private places, auditoriums, conference rooms, community halls, banquet halls, temples, mosques and gurudwaras to ensure due compliance of the rules.

"We direct all the senior superintendents of police/superintendents of police in the states of Punjab, Haryana and Union Territory Chandigarh to ensure that no horns shall be blown in silence zone or at night time between 10 pm to 6 am in residential areas, except during public emergency.

"No sound emitting construction equipment shall be used or operated at the night time between 10 pm to 6 am in residential areas or silence zone. Pressure horns are banned throughout the states of Punjab, Haryana and Union Territory Chandigarh," the court said while directing the authorities to penalise violators under relevant rules.

All the SPs and DSPs have been directed to ensure that motorcycles are duly-fitted with silencers to avoid noise pollution and menace.

The director generals of Police in Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh have been directed to ensure that no songs are played glorifying liquor, drugs and violence in any song, even in live shows.

No one shall carry a firearm to a fair, religious procession/marriage procession or other public assemblage or within the campus or precincts of any educational institution, the court ordered.

Further, it has also been directed that no child below the age of 12 years is permitted to enter cinema halls/multiplexes where "A" certificate films are screened.

The district administration is directed to ensure that nude posters, semi-nude and obscene posters are not fixed/displayed in any district near educational institutions, the court said.

"The recommendations made by the committee constituted by this court are ordered to be implemented in letter and spirit for proper enforcement of law. District magistrates/senior superintendents of police/superintendents of police of each district shall be personally responsible to ensure due compliance of the directions," the judgment stated.

A copy of the court order has been sent to the chief secretaries of the two states and the Chandigarh home secretary for compliance.

This court passed the orders while accepting the suggestions of committee headed by M L Sarin, noted advocate/amicus curiae.

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