Loudspeaker ban: Gujarat moves SC

Respecting people's 'sensitivity' looking forward to enjoy Garba during Navratras, the Gujarat government on Friday moved the Supreme Court seeking to relax ban on the use of laudspeakers from 10:00 pm to 06:00 am throughout the country.

Posting the matter for hearing on Monday, a bench comprising Chief Justice R C Lahoti, Justice G P Mathur and Justice P K Balasubramanyam said the matter will be heard by a bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhan, who had delivered verdict on the issue on July 18.

SC restricts use of loudspeakers at night

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Gujarat government sought the relaxation for two hours from 10:00 pm till midnight during the Navratras on the use of laudspeaker for the garba dance, for which the state is famous.

He contended that an amendment brought in the year 2002 to the Noise Pollution (Control and Regulation) Rules, 2000 permits the state governments to relax the condition for use of laudspeaker and public address systems during the night hours for two hours between 10:00 pm and midnight during cultural and festive occasion of a limited duration, not exceeding 15 days in a year.

During the brief hearing, the court expressed its unhappiness that different states were approaching the court to relax the ban on use of sound systems for different festivals.