After Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai held a meeting with Home Department officials, the state government announced that permission would be required by all to use loudspeakers in the state over the next 15 days.
A letter has been written by the Chief Secretary to the Additional Chief Secretary Environment to ensure that court orders on loudspeakers are followed. Those who have not obtained permission should voluntarily remove the loudspeakers. A committee would be formed to decide on the application for the use of loudspeakers, the government said.
On Monday, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai directed officials to strictly implement the Supreme Court order on the use of loudspeakers. This comes amid calls by Sri Rama Sene activists to play morning prayers and Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers at temples, if the government fails to act against loudspeakers in mosques.
Bommai said, “The SC order is already in place and it is applicable to all. We have to implement this in an equitable manner. We are keeping track of what’s happening in other states (row over azaan). The high court has already given a ruling on how to implement the SC order. I have given instructions that the orders have to be thoroughly followed.”
Sri Rama Sene had earlier warned that it will counter morning Azaan with Hanuman Chalisa or Suprabhata or Omkara and devotional songs from 5 AM on May 9, if the government does not take action against loudspeakers installed at mosques.
The Supreme Court in July 2005 issued guidelines on the use of loudspeakers in public places at night to bring down the decibel levels. The two-judge bench banned the use of loudspeakers and music systems between 10 pm to 6 am (except in the cases of public emergencies) in public places, citing serious effects of noise pollution on the health of the people living in such areas.
