The Punjab and Haryana High Court has requested a report detailing measures implemented to reduce noise pollution caused by excessive use of loudspeakers, following complaints from residents living near a nearby gurudwara.

A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerjee was addressing a petition highlighting worries regarding the unrestricted utilization of loudspeakers by gurudwaras situated in residential localities.

In an order issued on March 18, the Court requested a response from the governments of Punjab and Haryana regarding the issue at hand.

The petitioners appearing before the Court expressed deep grievance over the purported widespread and excessive use of loudspeakers at unbearable volumes by a gurudwara situated within a residential vicinity.

They emphasized that the noise emitted from these loudspeakers was adversely impacting their health, as well as that of other residents in the area. Additionally, the petitioners noted that despite numerous representations made to the relevant authorities regarding these grievances, no action had been taken to address the issue.

The petitioners argued that the authorities' failure to take action amounted to a neglect in enforcing the directives laid out by the Supreme Court in the case of In re-noise pollution (2005).

While reviewing the case, the High Court also acknowledged its previous judgment on the matter in 2019, specifically in the case of Reet Mohinder Singh vs. State of Punjab. In this instance, the court had issued various directives aimed at mitigating noise pollution, which included measures to regulate the noise generated by loudspeakers or amplifiers utilized by temples, mosques, and gurudwaras.

The Court then proceeded to request a report from the governments of both Punjab and Haryana regarding the implementation status of the 2019 judgment, particularly concerning measures aimed at controlling noise pollution emanating from loudspeakers or amplifiers used by religious institutions.

The matter will be heard next on April 22.