Patna: Sound amplifiers, pressure horns, DJ operators and loudspeakers will face a general prohibition after 9.55pm across Bihar with the Patna high court directing police and district administrations to strictly enforce noise pollution norms. The court also ordered authorities to maintain “no silence zones” in the vicinity of schools and hospitals across the state.A single bench of Justice Rajiv Roy issued the directions while disposing of a contempt case. The order was passed on Aug 14 but became public on Thursday.The court directed all district magistrates, superintendents of police, sub-divisional officers and station house officers to strictly enforce the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, and the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.State govt counsel Prashant Pratap assured the court that the Aug 14 order would be communicated immediately to all administrative and police functionaries across Bihar for strict compliance. The court also recorded special words of appreciation for senior advocate Ajay, who functioned as amicus curiae, and govt counsel Prashant Pratap.The directives make registration mandatory for every DJ operator, marriage hall owner and loudspeaker operator with the local sub-divisional office. The Bihar State Pollution Control Board has also been tasked with installing noise-monitoring systems and digital display boards in public areas to raise awareness about noise pollution.
