No horn please...
Curb noise near courts, high court tells cops
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: Silence-the court is in session!  This phrase will now take on new
meaning for the Mumbai traffic police.

    The Bombay high court has directed the police to curb noise pollution
around court complexes in the city and suburbs. Hearing a public interest
litigation filed by a city advocate Uday Shah, a division bench of Justice R
M Lodha and Justice S A Bobde has asked the deputy commissioner of police
( traffic) to ban honking near courts and put up adequate signages.

    Shah, who practises at the Small Causes Court said that the incessant
honking and high noise levels had made it difficult for the judges and
lawyers to hear each other in the courtrooms.

    Areas around courts, schools and hospitals are silence zones according
to the Noise Pollution Rules of 2000. During the daytime, 50 decibels is the
maximum noise level permitted in a silence zone. The judges have noted with
dismay that despite their orders in 2003, to curb noise pollution around the
high court, a report revealed that the noise levels were as high as 70-75
decibels. Assistant government pleader Niranjan Pandit said honking was
banned around the HC and police had been stationed to catch offenders.
Pandit also told the court that a noise decibel measuring meter had been
installed at the high court. The judges have asked the police to install a
similar device at the Small Causes Court.


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