Tuesday, the government of Karnataka prohibited the use of loudspeakers between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., amidst a heated discussion about loudspeakers. The Karnataka government has said that loudspeakers or public address systems should only be used with formal authorization from the appropriate authorities.
The circular said, “A loudspeaker or public address system should not be utilized at night (between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.) except in closed premises for communication inside, e.g., auditoriums, conference rooms, community halls, and banquet halls.”
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The circular referenced a Supreme Court judgment that said that noise levels at the public place’s perimeter when a loudspeaker, public address system, or any other noise source is employed might not exceed 10 dB(A) over the ambient noise requirements for the region or 75 dB(A), whichever is lower.
“The State Government now reiterates that the Government order…under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000 for Regulation of Noise Pollution from loudspeakers/public address systems and sound-producing devices is to be rigorously observed and enforced,” it stated.
On April 12, the MNS chairman issued the Maharashtra government a request to remove loudspeakers from mosques by May 3, failing which, he said, MNS activists would play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers.
On Tuesday, Raj Thackeray was charged with inciting people to play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers in places where loudspeakers are used for ‘Azaan.’
