Ban on cone speakers likely in two weeks

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan, on recording the additional advocate general’s submission, said, “We are of the view that no further directions are required other than to ensure that on both the aspects, the concerned authorities implemented the directions passed by the Supreme Court and this court.”

The bench was disposing a PIL filed by S Kumaravelu of Perambur to direct the state government and its agencies to strictly implement the Supreme court order dated July 18, 2005, placing restrictions on the use of cone speakers. The bench, on recording the submission of the Federation of Mosques on Shariath Protection Forum that the entry of police to check the noise pollution level causes some harassment despite maintaining decibel levels, said, “The status report filed by the police seek to suggest that 111 cases have been registered for violation of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, from September 20 to November 18.” “In our view, whether the decibel levels are maintained or not can be checked only on verification and it thus appears to suggest that there are still violations, whether it be the mosques, temples or churches,” the bench added.