District Collector Biju Prabhakar has warned that stringent action will be taken, without warning, against those found to be violating the norms regarding the use of loudspeakers. The microphone set will be confiscated and a case will be registered against the loudspeaker operator, Mr. Prabhakar has said.
This directive comes in the wake of several complaints that loudspeakers were left on even beyond the stipulated time frame between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The Collector noted that violations were reported even after repeated warnings were circulated through the press. Those punishable included the individual or group in whose name the loudspeaker licence was registered, the operator, the respective event organiser, and, if the erring loudspeaker set was found mounted on a vehicle, the driver as well.
Legal action would be taken on the grounds of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, Kerala Police Act, and the IPC 268, 290, and 291. The operator found violating the rules would not be issued a licence to work in the district thereafter, the Collector added.
Loudspeakers must not be set up within 100 m of the vicinity of hospitals, educational institutions, court complexes, public offices, and the zoo.
Loudspeakers could be used after 10 p.m. only if it is set up inside a closed auditorium or conference hall. Not more than two boxes were allowed as loudspeaker sets on a vehicle, a press release said.
