Bengaluru: City Police has begun seizing microphones from places of worship that reportedly violated court orders on noise pollution.
City Police Commissioner Kamal Pant announced on Tuesday April 5 that many microphones had been seized from religious places where court orders had been violated. The police have filed charges, and the drive will continue to monitor the prescribed decibel levels before taking action, he said.
Pant said that the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has sent letters to 301 religious establishments in Bengaluru among which 125 notices have been issued to mosques, 83 temples and 22 churches. Along with this, 59 notices are issued to pubs, bars, restaurants and 12 industries have been given notices.
While the police described it as part of an awareness drive, it also comes in the wake of Hindu fringe activists’ announcing to play Hanuman Chalisa over loudspeakers in the morning to counter the azaan. It can be recalled here that several right-wing Hindu organisations have launched campaigns against the playing of ‘azaan’ through loudspeakers at mosques.
Sri Rama Sene Chief Pramod Muthalik warned on Tuesday that if the Government does not remove microphones from all mosques, the Sene will intensify its protest by singing bhajans in temples over loudspeakers.
According to the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, restrictions on the use of loudspeakers or public address systems include not using one “except after obtaining written permission from the authority,” and not using a loudspeaker/public address system at night between 10.00 pm and 6.00 am except in closed premises for communication within auditoriums, conference rooms, community halls, and banquet halls.
“The State Government may subject to such terms and conditions as are necessary to reduce noise pollution, permit use of loudspeakers or public address systems during night hours (between 10.00 pm to midnight on or during any cultural or religious festive occasion of a limited duration not exceeding fifteen days in all during a calendar year,” the rules add.
