On Monday (February 10), the Allahabad High Court rejected a petition against the installation of loudspeakers in Mahakumbh. During the hearing, the High Court noted that there is no sufficient data to suggest that the public address system was causing noise above permissible limits.
The petition was filed by Brahmachari Dayanand Indian Inhabitant, who although are resident of Uttarakhand, however, claimed to be camping at Sector 18 at Mukti Marg in Prayagraj. The petitioners argued that other camps, which have been set up around the camp of the petitioners, are using public address systems and LCDs wherein, they are creating noise pollution and affecting the meditation etc. of the petitioners. Due to this, the petitioners demanded that the use of public address systems/loudspeakers and other noise-polluting devices and amplifiers be limited.
The court, however, noted that “except producing a few pictures of the loudspeakers, which apparently have been placed for announcements etc. and are also situated at the temporary roads created for the Kumbh Mela, the petitioners have not produced any material worth the name so as to indicate the nature of noise being created by the said public address systems and that the same are beyond the permissible limit in terms of relevant Act and the Rules.”
The bench comprising Justices Kshitij Shailendra and Arun Bhansali,while dismissing the petition, observed that the filing of the petition is based on an academic exercise undertaken based on the judgments of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and producing a few pictures of loudspeakers.
“Such a laconic petition cannot be countenanced. In view thereof, the petition is dismissed,” the court said.
