Decibel Discipline

The Bombay High Court’s recent ruling on the use of loudspeakers at places of worship is a long-overdue intervention against unchecked noise pollution. By affirming that the use of loudspeakers is not an essential religious practice protected under Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, the court has struck a judicious balance between religious freedoms and public health. While the judgment is a welcome step, it highlights the rampant disregard for noise pollution norms in Mumbai, Pune and other urban centers.

Noise pollution in India’s bustling cities has long been an unacknowledged crisis. The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, mandate strict decibel limits in residential areas—55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night. Yet, as the court observed, compliance is sporadic at best. In the case at hand, decibel levels near two mosques in Kurla and Chunabhatti exceeded 80 decibels, almost double the permissible limit. This is not an isolated incident. Across Maharashtra, religious places, construction sites and private events routinely flout noise regulations with impunity.

The High Court’s directive to the Maharashtra government to implement an in-built mechanism to control decibel levels of sound-emitting devices is a practical move. The emphasis on calibrating and auto-fixing loudspeaker decibel limits at places of worship ensures that enforcement is preventive rather than reactive. Equally commendable is the court’s insistence on the use of decibel-measuring applications by the police and the protection of complainant identities to prevent retaliation. However, enforcement remains a glaring weak spot in the system. The challenge lies not in the lack of rules but in their implementation. The enforcement often succumbs to political and religious sensitivities. Complaints of noise pollution, especially against religious establishments, are dismissed or ignored, leaving citizens to suffer in silence.

Noise pollution is a grave public health hazard in our age. As the High Court observed, no one’s rights are curtailed by limiting loudspeaker usage. On the contrary, regulating noise levels is in the broader public interest.

The court’s verdict should serve as a catalyst for systemic reform. Maharashtra must go beyond sporadic crackdowns and adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward noise pollution. This includes extending the court-mandated measures to all sources of noise, including political rallies, construction sites, and festivals, which are equally culpable. Cities like Pune and Mumbai, with their dense populations and 24/7 activity, are particularly vulnerable to the cascading effects of unchecked noise pollution. The Bombay High Court has shown the way forward with its pragmatic and balanced ruling. The court’s message is clear that lawlessness, whether cloaked in religious garb or otherwise, has no place in a democratic society.

Noise pollution, though invisible, is as damaging as air or water pollution. It is high time that Maharashtra treated it with the seriousness it deserves.