Noise limit breached during Diljit concert: UT to High Court

The UT Administration has told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the noise levels exceeded the permissible limits during Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh’s concert in the city on December 14.

In an affidavit submitted before a Division Bench, the UT said action under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the Noise Pollution Rules had been proposed on December 16.

Didn’t seek passes, separate space: HC

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has asserted that it neither sought passes nor a separate enclosure at the Diljit Dosanjh concert on December 14. “The High Court has nothing to do with the issuing of passes. If at all passes were distributed, they would have been at an individual level by the organisers and not at the behest of the court,” an official said. On the matter of the judges’ lounge set up at the event venue, he maintained that creating separate enclosures was entirely within the purview of the organisers and was often guided by security concerns. “The High Court never asked for a separate enclosure or any preferential treatment,” he asserted. TNS

“During the musical event of performer Diljit Dosanjh, the noise levels were monitored at various locations and it was observed that these exceeded the limits prescribed under The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000. The noise levels had ranged between 76.1 and 93.1 decibels against the permitted 75 at three different location. Accordingly, action under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the 2000 rules has been proposed vide letter dated December 16.”

The affidavit comes less than a week after a court directive imposing strict noise control measures for public events. The High Court had permitted the concert, subject to the condition that noise levels at the venue boundary must not exceed 75 dB(A).

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal court had asserted that any breach of the prescribed noise limits would attract penal action. “In case the noise level goes beyond 75 dB(A), the official respondents are directed to take penal action against the organisers as prescribed by the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control Rules) 2000”.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an advocate seeking directions to the Union Territory of Chandigarh regarding the management of public events at the Sector 34 exhibition ground. Among other things, the petitioner had raised concerns over public safety, traffic disruptions, environmental pollution, and violation of fundamental rights in connection with a concert held on December 7, and an upcoming event on December 14.

The UT of Chandigarh was represented by senior standing counsel Amit Jhanji, with counsel Abhinav Sood, Sumit Jain, Himanshu Arora, Anmol Gupta, Nitesh Jhajhria, Mehndi Singhal, Eliza Gupta and Sayyam Garg.