Punjab and Haryana High Court seeks report after plea filed against loudspeakers in Gurudwara

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought a report on the steps taken to curb noise pollution through the indiscriminate use of loudspeakers after certain residents complained of such noise emanating from a nearby gurudwara [Abhilaksh Sachdev & Anr v State of Haryana & Ors]..A bench of Acting Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerjee was dealing with a petition that raised concerns about the indiscriminate use of noisy loudspeakers by gurudwaras in residential areas.In an order passed on March 18, the Court sought a reply in the matter from the governments of Punjab and Haryana."The status report be submitted by both the States by the next date of hearing as how many complaints have been received and the action taken on them in all districts of both the States," the Court ordered..The litigants before the Court said that they are grossly aggrieved by the alleged indiscriminate use of loudspeakers at excessive and intolerable volumes by a gurudwara in a residential area.They said that the noise from these loudspeakers was affecting their health as well as others living in the vicinity..The petitioners added that several representations on these grievances had been sent to the concerned authorities to no avail. "The concerned authorities have chosen to be oblivious to such a significant issue of environmental damage which is affecting the health and lives of the people living in the vicinity. Meaning thereby, that all the complaints, representations and legal notices addressed by the Petitioners have failed to garner any response or action at the behest of the concerned authorities," their petition stated..The petitioners contended that the authorities, by their inaction, have failed to implement directions given by the Supreme Court in the case of In re-noise pollution (2005)..While examining the case, the High Court also noted that it has earlier passed a judgment on the issue in 2019, namely Reet Mohinder Singh vs. State of Punjab. In this case, several directions were issued to curb noise pollution, including by controlling noise from loudspeakers or amplifiers used by temples, mosques and gurudwaras. The Court proceeded to seek a report from the governments of both Punjab and Haryana on whether this 2019 judgment was being implemented."Keeping in view the issue involved, we expand the scope and also implead the State of Punjab for giving its report whether the judgment dated 22.07.2019 rendered in CWP-6213-2016, Reet Mohinder Singh vs. State of Punjab and others (Annexure P-12) is being implemented," the Court said.The matter will be heard next on April 22..Advocates Abhinav Sood, Achintaya Soni, Advocate, and Nitesh Jaghria appeared for the petitioners.Additional Advocate General Deepak Balyan appeared for the Haryana government, whereas Additional Advocate General Saurav Khurana appeared for the Punjab government..[Read Order]