Following the footsteps of Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, the Jammu civic body on prohibited the use of illegal loudspeakers at religious places.
The Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) passed a resolution against the noise pollution caused by loudspeakers amid a chaos by opposition members.
The resolution was moved by BJP councilor Narotam Sharma. The BJP councilor, in his resolution, demanded that all illegal loudspeakers and public address systems be removed from all religious places in Jammu in order to prevent noise pollution.
“The resolution has been passed with a majority. Now, the implementation will be done as per Supreme Court’s ruling,” said Chander Mohan Gupta, Mayor of Jammu Municipal Corporation.
The move comes in the backdrop of a raging debate over the use of loudspeakers in mosques.
The controversy over the use of loudspeakers erupted after MNS chief Raj Thackeray demanded that loudspeakers be removed from mosques across the state, and threatened that they will play Hanuman Chalisa if his demand is not fulfilled.
Several states, including Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, have banned the use of unauthorised loudspeakers from religious sites.
Last week, the Karnataka government prohibited the use of loudspeakers between 10 pm and 6 am.
In a circular, the government said that a loudspeaker or a public address system shall not be used without written permission from the designated authorities.
“A loudspeaker or a public address system shall not be used at night (between 10.00 pm to 6.00 am) except in closed premises for communication within e.g., auditoria, conference rooms, community halls and banquet halls,” the circular said.
The circular cited the Supreme Court order which has said that the noise level at the boundary of the public place, where a loudspeaker or public address system or any other noise source is being used shall not exceed 10 dB(A) above the ambient noise standards for the area or 75 dB(A) whichever is lower.
