Semantic Analysis by spaCy
Om Birangana Religious Society Through Kalipada Das Vs. the State and ors.
Decided On : Apr-01-1996
Court : Kolkata
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No. 4303(W) of 1995', 'appellant' => 'Om Birangana Religious Society Through Kalipada Das', 'authreffered' => '', 'casename' => 'Om Birangana Religious Society Through Kalipada Das Vs. the State and ors.', 'casenote' => ' - ', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => 'Narendra Prasad v. State of Gujarat;', 'citingcases' => '', 'counselplain' => 'Saradindu Samanta, Adv.', 'counseldef' => '', 'court' => 'Kolkata', 'court_type' => 'HC', 'decidedon' => '1996-04-01', 'deposition' => '', 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => 'Bhagabati Prosad Banerjee, J.', 'judgement' => '<p style="text-align: justify;">Bhagabati Prosad Banerjee, J.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">1. In this writ application, the petitioner, a religious organisation, claims that the respondents should not interfere with the right of user of microphones, loud-speakers, and for amplifying human voice and for amplifying other sounds while playing daily pujas and other religious activities and display of religious songs. The petitioner prayed for a writ in the nature of Mandamus commanding the District Magistrate and/or the Sub-Divisional Officer, Ghatal, to accord necessary permission in favour of the said society in terms of Section 34A of the Police Act, 1963, (West Bengal Amendment).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">2. The point raised in this writ application is of great public importance and significance. Section 34A of the <a href="/act/51730/police-act-1861-complete-act">Police Act, 1861</a>, as amended by the West Bengal Act 38 of 1963, reads as follows:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">'34A. Power to prohibit, restrict, regulate or impose conditions on the use of microphones, etc., (1) If, in the opinion of the Magistrate of the district or any Sub-Divisional Magistrate or Magistrate of the first class, it is necessary so to do for the purpose of preventing annoyance to, or injury to the health of, the public or any section thereof, or for the purpose of maintaining public peace and tranquillity, he may, by order, prohibit, restrict, regulate or impose conditions on, the use or operation, in any area with his jurisdiction or in any vehicle within such area of microphones, loud-speakers or other apparatus for amplifying human voice or for amplifying music or other sounds.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(2) The State Government may, on its own motion or on the representation of any person or persons aggrieved, modify, alter or cancel any order made under Sub-section(l).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(3) A police officer, not below the rank of Sub-Inspector, may take such steps or use such force as may be reasonably necessary for securing compliance with any order made under Sub-section (1) or any such order as modified or altered by the State Government under Sub-section (2) and may seize any microphone, loud-speaker or other apparatus used or operated in contravention of the order.'</p><p style="text-align: justify;">3. It is the case of the petitioner that microphones are required by the society during puja performance, arati, nitya puja, etc., and that nobody ever raised any objection to the performance of the aforesaid religious activities in the manner and in the way as had been done, but the Sub-Divisional Officer, Ghatal, directed the petitioner/society not to use any microphone while performing puja and other religious activities without serving any notice in the month of September, 1993.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">4. It also appears that the petitioner filed an application before the Sub-Divisional Officer, Ghatal, on October 11, 1993, so that permission would be granted in favour of the said society for use of microphones.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">5. Similar application was filed by the petitioner before the Circle Inspector of Police, Ghatal, on 17th October, 1993, so that necessary permission may be granted in favour of the said society for the use of the microphones for the aforesaid purpose.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">6. The petitioner has alleged inaction on the part of the District Magistrate or the Sub-Divisional Magistrate to deal with and dispose of the petitioner's application for permission to use microphone.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">7. Section 34A of the <a href="/act/51730/police-act-1861-complete-act">Police Act, 1861</a>, provided power to prohibit, restrict, regulate or impose conditions on the use of microphones, if in the opinion of the Magistrate of the District or any Sub-Divisional Magistrate or a Magistrate of the First Class it is necessary so to do for the purpose of preventing annoyance or injury to health of the public or any section thereof or for the purpose of maintaining public peace and tranquillity, such officer may, by an order, prohibit, restrict or regulate or impose conditions on the use or operation in any area within his jurisdiction or in any vehicle within such area of microphones or loudspeakers or other apparatus for amplifying human voice or for amplifying music and other sounds.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">8. Under Sub-section (3) thereof, the police officer not below the rank of Sub-Inspector, may also take such steps or use such force as may be reasonably necessary for securing compliance with any order made under Sub-section (1) and may also take penal action.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">9. It is not in dispute that for use of microphones permission is required from the authorities and that the authority, it appears that, is the sole authority to allow or not to disallow and/or to prohibit and/or to restrict, regulate and/or to control the use of microphones.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">10. The rights of the petitioner or any association, religious or otherwise, cannot be said to be absolute, nor it can be said that the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Officer or the police authorities are the absolute authority in the matter of granting of such permission without having any regard to other factors.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">11. Article 19(1)(a) provides Fundamental Rights on all citizens to Freedom of Speech and Expression, and that this right is only subject to restriction imposable under Article 19(2) of the Constitution. The reasonable restriction on the exercise of freedom of speech and expression could be imposed in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with the foreign State, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of Court, defamation, incitement to an offence.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">12. The freedom of speech and expression of a citizen should not be interfered with save and except in accordance with the provisions of Article 19(2) of the Constitution. It is a matter to consider whether the public are captive audience or listeners when permission is given for using loud-speakers in public and the person who is otherwise unwilling to bear the sound and/or the music or the communication made by the loud-speakers, but he is compelled to tolerate all these things against his will and health. If permission is granted to use microphones at a louder voice, such a course of action takes away the rights of a citizen to speak with others, the right to read or the right to know and the right to sleep and rest or to think any matter. Can it be said that a person and/or an organization simply applying a permission and after obtaining permission is entitled to display loud-speakers from local authorities? Does it concern simply a law and order situation? Does it not generate sound pollution? Does it not affect the other known rights of a citizen? Even if a citizen is ill and even if such a sound may create adverse effect on his physical and mental condition, yet he is made a captive audience to listen.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">13. Freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the <a href="/act/51737/constitution-of-india-complete-act">Constitution of India</a> includes, by necessary implication, freedom not to listen and/or to remain silent. One cannot exercise his right at the cost and in total deprivation of others' rights. A right cannot be conferred by the authorities concerned upon a person or a religious organization to exercise their rights suspending and/or taking away the rights of others.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">14. In this connection, Mr. Samanta, learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner, submitted that right to propagate religion is guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution. Article 25(1) of the Constitution provides that subject to public order, morality and health and to other provisions of Part-Ill of the Constitution, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience, and that right to freely profess, practise and propagate religion.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">15. It is well-settled that the right to propagate one's religion means the right to communicate a person's belief to another or to expose the tenets of that faith. The question is whether the right to propagate religion includes the right to use loud-speakers and microphones for the purpose of chanting religious tenets or religious texts and/or the indiscriminate use of microphones or loud-speakers during religious performance in the society.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">16. Freedom of speech is guaranteed to every citizen so that he may reach with the minds of willingness and not coerced unwillingness.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">17. There cannot be any dispute that sound is a known source of pollution. The adverse and ill effect of sound on human body is also known. It has a tremendous impact on the nervous system of human being.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">18. The American Supreme Court, in the case of Ward v. Rock Against Racism, 491 US 781, upheld the city regulations designed to regulate the volume of excessively amplified music at the Naumberg Acoustic Bandshell in New York City's Central Park, to protect those who use a quiet, recreational area of the park called the Sheep Meadow and also to protect resistance in Central Park West area.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">19. In this case, the American Supreme Court rejected the challenge to these city noise regulations.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">20. The religion that has been performed by the petitioner and others, is nothing new, but the same is there for several centuries. It cannot be said that the religious teachers or the spiritual leaders who had laid down these tenets, had any way desired the use of microphones as a means of performance of religion. Undoubtedly, one can practise, profess and propagate religion, as guaranteed under Article 25(1) of the Constitution, but that is not an absolute right. The provisions of Article 25 is subject to the provisions of Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. On true and proper construction of the provisions of Article 25(1), read with Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, it cannot be said that a citizen should be coerced to hear anything which he does not like or which he does not require.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">21. Amplifier and microphone create tremendous noise and sounds which may travel at least half to one kilometre away. Having regard to the provisions of Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, it cannot be said that the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Officer and the police authorities are the sole authority who can grant at will permission without having any regard to the fundamental rights of the fellow citizens. Such authorities, by granting permission to display microphone, cannot make the public the captive listeners. The citizens have a right enjoy lives in the way they like, without violating any of the provisions of the law. A citizen has a right to leisure, right to sleep, right not to hear and right to remain silent. He has also the right to read and speak with others. Use of microphones certainly takes away the right of the citizens to speak with others, their right to read or think or the right to sleep. There may be heart patients or patients suffering from nervous disorder may be compelled to bear this serious impact of sound pollution which has had an adverse effect on them. It may create health problems.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">22. Pollution is a factor which has now a prime importance in the modern society. The effect of sound on human bodies is very serious.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">23. Accordingly, no authority would grant permission to use microphones without having any regard to the rights of the fellow citizens or the people of the area. Such a sound pollution cannot be altogether stopped, but the sound level has to be reduced in such a manner and in such a form so that the sound may not travel beyond a certain limit, as for example, in a public meeting microphones or amplifiers may be necessary so that the listeners may hear the speeches delivered by the leaders and for that purpose the sound has to be regulated in such a manner so that it may not travel beyond a reasonable limit and/or such a sound cannot be allowed to travel beyond the zone in which the listeners are there.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">24. In a religious place or congregation, the use of microphones should be limited to the persons or the followers or the disciples who are there so that they may hear and know, they may follow and understand what is meant for them. No. person and/or organization cannot be allowed to use microphones at a high noise level or without any volume control.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">25. So far as right of religious organisations to use loudspeaker or amplifier is concerned that right is not an independent right under Article 25 of the <a href="/act/51737/constitution-of-india-complete-act">Constitution of India</a>. Article 25(1) of the <a href="/act/51737/constitution-of-india-complete-act">Constitution of India</a> provides that subject to public order, morality and health and to the other provisions of this part, all persons and equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">26. The Supreme Court in the case of Narendra Prasad v. State of Gujarat, reported in : [1975]2SCR317 , has considered the aspect of the matter that Article 19(1) confers various rights specified therein from (a) to (g) of the said Article for the citizen. The right under Article 25 of the Constitution is subject to the rights of Article 19. This case is the clear authority for the proposition that while exercising a right under Article 25 no person can interfere with, take away or abridge the right of a citizen guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">27. Any provision of law authorising the police and/or the administration to grant permission for using of loud-speaker cannot be absolute, uncontrolled and independent of constitutional rights. All laws in this behalf are subject to the provisions of Article 19 of the Constitution as there cannot be any law which may interfere with, abridge or take away the right as guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution save and except the provisions laid down in Article 19(2) of the Constitution. Use of loud-speaker cannot be said to be a reasonable restriction on the freedom of speech and expression. Even Article 25 of the Constitution grants freedom of conscience and expression. Freedom of conscience is followed up by the right to free profess, practice and propagation of religion. Use of loud-speaker emanates noise which is not only a nuisance, but also a pollution. In United Kingdom for the purpose of controlling noise it is mandatory to keep a register in accordance with the regulations which is known as 'Control of Noise (Measurement and Register) Regulation, 1976 and that the said register must be open to free public inspection at the public office of the authorities at all reasonable hours and with all reasonable facilities for obtaining copies of entries at a reasonable charge. There is a specific Act known as 'Control and Pollution Act, 1974'.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">28. In West Bengal there is an authority known as 'West Bengal Pollution Control Board'. The tremendous sound and/or noise emanated from use of loud-speaker has to be controlled by all means inasmuch as use of such loud-speaker and/or microphones is a serious threat to public life and health.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">29. Accordingly, it must be held that powers of the Police, District Magistrates or Sub-Divisional Officers to grant permission to use microphones is subject to certain restrictions and conditions which are necessary in order to protect and preserve a very fundamental right of citizen under Article 19(1)(a) of the <a href="/act/51737/constitution-of-india-complete-act">Constitution of India</a> on the following terms:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(a) The Pollution Control Board shall maintain noise level registers for measuring the level of noise;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(b) The said authority shall indicate the level of noise which could be permitted by use of microphones on any occasion;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(c) Powers of the District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Officers and other authorities are subject to any direction and/or conditions imposed by the West Bengal Pollution Board;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(d) The person or persons or any business house dealing with or letting or selling the microphones/loud-speakers and the operating apparatus shall be bound to seal the volume and the noise level according to the directions of the Pollution Control Board, before letting or parting with or selling such apparatus for any purpose. In default thereof, they should not be permitted to deal with such items. For this purpose, the Pollution Control Board shall issue directions from time to time in this behalf.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(e) Loud-speakers should not be allowed to' operate in the streets between 9 p.m. in the evening and 7 in the following morning for any purpose at any time including for the purpose of advertisement of any entertainment, trade or business. However, this restriction shall not operate in respect of loud-speakers operating by the police, Ambulance or Fire-Brigade in the exercise of any of the functions or by local authority within its area and for making announcement or making a declaration or giving some information which is necessary to the public subject to such level of volume as specified by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If a loud-speaker is in or fixed to a vehicle is operated solely for entertaining or communicating to the driver or passenger of the vehicle or for giving warning to other traffic and so operated without causing any annoyance to any person of the vicinity;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For communicating with persons on a vessel for the purpose of directing them movement of that or any other vessel;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If the loud-speaker forms part of a public telephone system; so far as use of microphones and/or loud-speakers by any religious organisation or at any religious place or for the use of religious communication it should also be used solely for the purpose of communication the speeches and/or religious teachings and/ or tenets to the persons who have attended such functions and so operated has not to give reasonable cause for annoyance to any person in the vicinity.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">30. The volume and noise level should be approved by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board and the same should be enforced by the police and the administration. So far as public meeting is concerned, the same should be used in such a manner with such a volume which should not exceed the level fixed by the Pollution Control Board which should be treated as registered level and the volume may be regulated in such a fashion so that it may reach to all persons who join in the meeting in a particular area and not beyond that. It should not be operated in such a manner so as to give reasonable cause of annoyance to the persons in the vicinity.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">31. Before granting any permission the purpose of use of microphones and/or loud-speakers and the area where such machines would be fitted, the police authorities will inspect and seal the noise level in that particular microphones apparatus so that on no occasion the noise level exceeds the fixed and registered noise level. A noise level register should be maintained by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board under the control and supervision of the Member-Secretary. The Member-Secretary of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board or any other person authorised by him is given liberty to enter in any place with the help of police for the purpose of ascertaining whether the noise level has exceeded the registered noise level fixed by the said Noise Control Board, and if it is found that there any contravention, the police will immediately seize and confiscate such loud-speakers and start necessary case for causing nuisance and/or annoyance in accordance with the provisions of law so that the offenders may not go unpunished. All concerned authorities including the State Government and officers must remember that this restriction of noise level is necessary in the interest of public health and is a matter not to be ignored inasmuch as ultimately this unregulated noise will cause a threat to the life and health of the people of the State and it is the duty of the State to preserve and protect the liberty of thought and expression and/or freedom of speech and expression as guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the <a href="/act/51737/constitution-of-india-complete-act">Constitution of India</a> and by indiscrimination and unregulated use of microphones people of the vicinity cannot be kept as mere captive listeners and their rights cannot be forcibly suspended by any people or organisation simply on the basis of administrative order obtained from the public authority by indiscriminate use of microphones or loud-speakers. It should be the endeavour of the State Government to preserve and protect fundamental rights of citizens, otherwise the said fundamental right as guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution will become a more lip service to the people. These conditions and restrictions should be imposed rigorously throughout the State and within a period of two months from the date of communication of this order and the Member-Secretary of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board shall submit a report to this Court about the compliance and steps taken in the matter in respect of aforesaid order. The writ petition is thus disposed of with the mandatory directions.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">32. Following these guidelines, the Respondent concern shall grant permissions to use loud-speakers to the petitioner according to law.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">33. Let a copy of the order be forwarded to the Honey. Secretary, Government of West Bengal, who is required to forward copies of this order to all the District Authorities including to District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Officers, Superintendents of Police as also the Commissioner of Police, Calcutta, so that they may discharge their duties in this regard in respect of use of microphones/loud-speakers in this State.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">34. Let a copy of this order be forwarded to the Member-Secretary, West Bengal Pollution Control Board, 10 Camac Street, Calcutta, for taking necessary steps and complaints.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">35. The Registrar, Appellate Side, of this Court is also directed to forward copies of this order to the Calcutta Doordarshan and the All India Radio at Calcutta as this is a matter of great public importance for regular announcement though their media so that everybody shall know their duties and obligations in respect of use of microphones/loud-speakers.<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => '', 'pubs' => '(1996)2CALLT474(HC),100CWN617', 'ratiodecidendi' => '', 'respondent' => 'The State and ors.', 'sub' => 'Constitution', 'link' => null, 'circuit' => null ) ), 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '876778' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Om Birangana Religious Society Through Kalipada Das Vs. the State and ors. Semantic Analysis' $shops = array( 'LAW' => array( (int) 0 => 'Section 34A of the Police Act', (int) 1 => 'the Police Act', (int) 2 => 'the Police Act', (int) 3 => 'Article 19(1)(a', (int) 4 => 'Article 19(2', (int) 5 => 'Constitution', (int) 6 => 'Article 19(2', (int) 7 => 'Constitution', (int) 8 => 'Article 19(1)(a', (int) 9 => 'Article 25 of the Constitution', (int) 10 => 'Article 25(1', (int) 11 => 'Constitution', (int) 12 => 'Constitution', (int) 13 => 'Article 25(1', (int) 14 => 'Constitution', (int) 15 => 'Article 25', (int) 16 => 'Article 19(1)(a', (int) 17 => 'Constitution', (int) 18 => 'Article 25(1', (int) 19 => 'Article 19(1)(a', (int) 20 => 'Constitution', (int) 21 => 'Article 19(1)(a', (int) 22 => 'Constitution', (int) 23 => 'Article 25 of the Constitution of India', (int) 24 => 'Article 25(1', (int) 25 => 'Article 19(1', (int) 26 => 'Article for the citizen', (int) 27 => 'Article 25 of the Constitution', (int) 28 => 'Article 19', (int) 29 => 'Article 25', (int) 30 => 'Article 19(1)(a', (int) 31 => 'Article 19 of the Constitution as', (int) 32 => 'Article 19(1)(a', (int) 33 => 'Constitution', (int) 34 => 'Article 19(2', (int) 35 => 'Constitution', (int) 36 => 'Article 25 of the Constitution', (int) 37 => 'Control and Pollution Act', (int) 38 => 'Article 19(1)(a', (int) 39 => 'Article 19(1)(a', (int) 40 => 'Article 19(1)(a', (int) 41 => 'Constitution' ), 'PERSON' => array( (int) 0 => 'Prosad Banerjee', (int) 1 => 'Ghatal', (int) 2 => 'Magistrate', (int) 3 => 'Ghatal', (int) 4 => 'Ghatal', (int) 5 => 'Samanta', (int) 6 => 'Amplifier', (int) 7 => 'vicinity;For', (int) 8 => 'complaints.35' ), 'NORP' => array( (int) 0 => 'J.1', (int) 1 => 'Mandamus' ), 'DATE' => array( (int) 0 => 'daily', (int) 1 => '1963', (int) 2 => '1861', (int) 3 => '1963', (int) 4 => 'the month of September', (int) 5 => 'October 11, 1993', (int) 6 => '17th October, 1993', (int) 7 => '1861', (int) 8 => 'several centuries', (int) 9 => '1976', (int) 10 => 'a period of', (int) 11 => 'two months' ), 'ORG' => array( (int) 0 => 'District Magistrate', (int) 1 => 'the Sub-Divisional Officer', (int) 2 => 'the Magistrate of the district or', (int) 3 => 'Sub-Divisional Magistrate', (int) 4 => 'The State Government', (int) 5 => 'Sub-Inspector', (int) 6 => 'the State Government', (int) 7 => 'the Sub-Divisional Officer', (int) 8 => 'the Sub-Divisional Officer', (int) 9 => 'the District Magistrate', (int) 10 => 'the Sub-Divisional Magistrate', (int) 11 => 'the Magistrate of the District or', (int) 12 => 'Sub-Divisional Magistrate', (int) 13 => 'Sub-Inspector', (int) 14 => 'the District Magistrate', (int) 15 => 'Sub-Divisional', (int) 16 => 'Fundamental Rights', (int) 17 => 'Freedom of Speech and Expression', (int) 18 => 'State', (int) 19 => 'State', (int) 20 => 'Court', (int) 21 => 'The American Supreme Court', (int) 22 => 'Ward', (int) 23 => 'US 781', (int) 24 => 'the American Supreme Court', (int) 25 => 'the District Magistrate', (int) 26 => 'Sub-Divisional', (int) 27 => 'The Supreme Court', (int) 28 => 'Narendra Prasad v. State of', (int) 29 => 'Measurement and Register) Regulation', (int) 30 => 'Pollution Control Board'', (int) 31 => 'The Pollution Control Board', (int) 32 => 'the District Magistrates', (int) 33 => 'the Pollution Control Board', (int) 34 => 'the Pollution Control Board', (int) 35 => 'Fire-Brigade', (int) 36 => 'the Pollution Control Board', (int) 37 => 'Noise Control Board', (int) 38 => 'the State Government', (int) 39 => 'State', (int) 40 => 'State', (int) 41 => 'the State Government', (int) 42 => 'State', (int) 43 => 'Control Board', (int) 44 => 'Court', (int) 45 => 'Honey', (int) 46 => 'Government of West Bengal', (int) 47 => 'Calcutta', (int) 48 => 'Pollution Control Board', (int) 49 => 'Registrar', (int) 50 => 'Appellate Side', (int) 51 => 'Court', (int) 52 => 'the Calcutta Doordarshan', (int) 53 => 'the All India Radio' ), 'CARDINAL' => array( (int) 0 => '1', (int) 1 => '1', (int) 2 => '2', (int) 3 => '1993.4', (int) 4 => '3', (int) 5 => '1', (int) 6 => '491', (int) 7 => 'at least half', (int) 8 => '1975]2SCR317', (int) 9 => '1974'.28', (int) 10 => '7', (int) 11 => '10' ), 'ORDINAL' => array( (int) 0 => 'first', (int) 1 => 'First', (int) 2 => 'there.24' ), 'GPE' => array( (int) 0 => 'microphones.10', (int) 1 => 'India', (int) 2 => 'New York City's', (int) 3 => 'India', (int) 4 => 'Gujarat', (int) 5 => 'United Kingdom', (int) 6 => 'West Bengal', (int) 7 => 'Police', (int) 8 => 'District Magistrates' ), 'WORK_OF_ART' => array( (int) 0 => 'the Constitution of India', (int) 1 => 'the Constitution of India', (int) 2 => 'the Constitution of India' ), 'FAC' => array( (int) 0 => 'the Naumberg Acoustic Bandshell', (int) 1 => 'Camac Street' ), 'LOC' => array( (int) 0 => 'Central Park', (int) 1 => 'Central Park West', (int) 2 => 'Respondent' ), 'PRODUCT' => array( (int) 0 => 'the Sheep Meadow', (int) 1 => 'Calcutta' ), 'QUANTITY' => array( (int) 0 => 'one kilometre' ), 'TIME' => array( (int) 0 => 'between 9 p.m. in the evening' ) ) $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '876778', 'acts' => '<a href="/act/51737/constitution-of-india-complete-act">Constitution of India</a> - Articles 19(1), 19(2) and 25; ;<a href="/act/51730/police-act-1861-complete-act">Police Act, 1861</a> - Sections 7 and 34A; ;West Bengal Police (Amendment) Act, 1963', 'appealno' => 'C.O. No. 4303(W) of 1995', 'appellant' => 'Om Birangana Religious Society Through Kalipada Das', 'authreffered' => '', 'casename' => 'Om Birangana Religious Society Through Kalipada Das Vs. the State and ors.', 'casenote' => ' - ', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => 'Narendra Prasad v. State of Gujarat;', 'citingcases' => '', 'counselplain' => 'Saradindu Samanta, Adv.', 'counseldef' => '', 'court' => 'Kolkata', 'court_type' => 'HC', 'decidedon' => '1996-04-01', 'deposition' => '', 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => 'Bhagabati Prosad Banerjee, J.', 'judgement' => '<p style="text-align: justify;">Bhagabati Prosad Banerjee, J.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">1. In this writ application, the petitioner, a religious organisation, claims that the respondents should not interfere with the right of user of microphones, loud-speakers, and for amplifying human voice and for amplifying other sounds while playing daily pujas and other religious activities and display of religious songs. The petitioner prayed for a writ in the nature of Mandamus commanding the District Magistrate and/or the Sub-Divisional Officer, Ghatal, to accord necessary permission in favour of the said society in terms of Section 34A of the Police Act, 1963, (West Bengal Amendment).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">2. The point raised in this writ application is of great public importance and significance. Section 34A of the <a href="/act/51730/police-act-1861-complete-act">Police Act, 1861</a>, as amended by the West Bengal Act 38 of 1963, reads as follows:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">'34A. Power to prohibit, restrict, regulate or impose conditions on the use of microphones, etc., (1) If, in the opinion of the Magistrate of the district or any Sub-Divisional Magistrate or Magistrate of the first class, it is necessary so to do for the purpose of preventing annoyance to, or injury to the health of, the public or any section thereof, or for the purpose of maintaining public peace and tranquillity, he may, by order, prohibit, restrict, regulate or impose conditions on, the use or operation, in any area with his jurisdiction or in any vehicle within such area of microphones, loud-speakers or other apparatus for amplifying human voice or for amplifying music or other sounds.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(2) The State Government may, on its own motion or on the representation of any person or persons aggrieved, modify, alter or cancel any order made under Sub-section(l).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(3) A police officer, not below the rank of Sub-Inspector, may take such steps or use such force as may be reasonably necessary for securing compliance with any order made under Sub-section (1) or any such order as modified or altered by the State Government under Sub-section (2) and may seize any microphone, loud-speaker or other apparatus used or operated in contravention of the order.'</p><p style="text-align: justify;">3. It is the case of the petitioner that microphones are required by the society during puja performance, arati, nitya puja, etc., and that nobody ever raised any objection to the performance of the aforesaid religious activities in the manner and in the way as had been done, but the Sub-Divisional Officer, Ghatal, directed the petitioner/society not to use any microphone while performing puja and other religious activities without serving any notice in the month of September, 1993.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">4. It also appears that the petitioner filed an application before the Sub-Divisional Officer, Ghatal, on October 11, 1993, so that permission would be granted in favour of the said society for use of microphones.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">5. Similar application was filed by the petitioner before the Circle Inspector of Police, Ghatal, on 17th October, 1993, so that necessary permission may be granted in favour of the said society for the use of the microphones for the aforesaid purpose.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">6. The petitioner has alleged inaction on the part of the District Magistrate or the Sub-Divisional Magistrate to deal with and dispose of the petitioner's application for permission to use microphone.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">7. Section 34A of the <a href="/act/51730/police-act-1861-complete-act">Police Act, 1861</a>, provided power to prohibit, restrict, regulate or impose conditions on the use of microphones, if in the opinion of the Magistrate of the District or any Sub-Divisional Magistrate or a Magistrate of the First Class it is necessary so to do for the purpose of preventing annoyance or injury to health of the public or any section thereof or for the purpose of maintaining public peace and tranquillity, such officer may, by an order, prohibit, restrict or regulate or impose conditions on the use or operation in any area within his jurisdiction or in any vehicle within such area of microphones or loudspeakers or other apparatus for amplifying human voice or for amplifying music and other sounds.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">8. Under Sub-section (3) thereof, the police officer not below the rank of Sub-Inspector, may also take such steps or use such force as may be reasonably necessary for securing compliance with any order made under Sub-section (1) and may also take penal action.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">9. It is not in dispute that for use of microphones permission is required from the authorities and that the authority, it appears that, is the sole authority to allow or not to disallow and/or to prohibit and/or to restrict, regulate and/or to control the use of microphones.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">10. The rights of the petitioner or any association, religious or otherwise, cannot be said to be absolute, nor it can be said that the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Officer or the police authorities are the absolute authority in the matter of granting of such permission without having any regard to other factors.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">11. Article 19(1)(a) provides Fundamental Rights on all citizens to Freedom of Speech and Expression, and that this right is only subject to restriction imposable under Article 19(2) of the Constitution. The reasonable restriction on the exercise of freedom of speech and expression could be imposed in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with the foreign State, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of Court, defamation, incitement to an offence.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">12. The freedom of speech and expression of a citizen should not be interfered with save and except in accordance with the provisions of Article 19(2) of the Constitution. It is a matter to consider whether the public are captive audience or listeners when permission is given for using loud-speakers in public and the person who is otherwise unwilling to bear the sound and/or the music or the communication made by the loud-speakers, but he is compelled to tolerate all these things against his will and health. If permission is granted to use microphones at a louder voice, such a course of action takes away the rights of a citizen to speak with others, the right to read or the right to know and the right to sleep and rest or to think any matter. Can it be said that a person and/or an organization simply applying a permission and after obtaining permission is entitled to display loud-speakers from local authorities? Does it concern simply a law and order situation? Does it not generate sound pollution? Does it not affect the other known rights of a citizen? Even if a citizen is ill and even if such a sound may create adverse effect on his physical and mental condition, yet he is made a captive audience to listen.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">13. Freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the <a href="/act/51737/constitution-of-india-complete-act">Constitution of India</a> includes, by necessary implication, freedom not to listen and/or to remain silent. One cannot exercise his right at the cost and in total deprivation of others' rights. A right cannot be conferred by the authorities concerned upon a person or a religious organization to exercise their rights suspending and/or taking away the rights of others.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">14. In this connection, Mr. Samanta, learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner, submitted that right to propagate religion is guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution. Article 25(1) of the Constitution provides that subject to public order, morality and health and to other provisions of Part-Ill of the Constitution, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience, and that right to freely profess, practise and propagate religion.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">15. It is well-settled that the right to propagate one's religion means the right to communicate a person's belief to another or to expose the tenets of that faith. The question is whether the right to propagate religion includes the right to use loud-speakers and microphones for the purpose of chanting religious tenets or religious texts and/or the indiscriminate use of microphones or loud-speakers during religious performance in the society.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">16. Freedom of speech is guaranteed to every citizen so that he may reach with the minds of willingness and not coerced unwillingness.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">17. There cannot be any dispute that sound is a known source of pollution. The adverse and ill effect of sound on human body is also known. It has a tremendous impact on the nervous system of human being.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">18. The American Supreme Court, in the case of Ward v. Rock Against Racism, 491 US 781, upheld the city regulations designed to regulate the volume of excessively amplified music at the Naumberg Acoustic Bandshell in New York City's Central Park, to protect those who use a quiet, recreational area of the park called the Sheep Meadow and also to protect resistance in Central Park West area.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">19. In this case, the American Supreme Court rejected the challenge to these city noise regulations.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">20. The religion that has been performed by the petitioner and others, is nothing new, but the same is there for several centuries. It cannot be said that the religious teachers or the spiritual leaders who had laid down these tenets, had any way desired the use of microphones as a means of performance of religion. Undoubtedly, one can practise, profess and propagate religion, as guaranteed under Article 25(1) of the Constitution, but that is not an absolute right. The provisions of Article 25 is subject to the provisions of Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. On true and proper construction of the provisions of Article 25(1), read with Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, it cannot be said that a citizen should be coerced to hear anything which he does not like or which he does not require.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">21. Amplifier and microphone create tremendous noise and sounds which may travel at least half to one kilometre away. Having regard to the provisions of Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, it cannot be said that the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Officer and the police authorities are the sole authority who can grant at will permission without having any regard to the fundamental rights of the fellow citizens. Such authorities, by granting permission to display microphone, cannot make the public the captive listeners. The citizens have a right enjoy lives in the way they like, without violating any of the provisions of the law. A citizen has a right to leisure, right to sleep, right not to hear and right to remain silent. He has also the right to read and speak with others. Use of microphones certainly takes away the right of the citizens to speak with others, their right to read or think or the right to sleep. There may be heart patients or patients suffering from nervous disorder may be compelled to bear this serious impact of sound pollution which has had an adverse effect on them. It may create health problems.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">22. Pollution is a factor which has now a prime importance in the modern society. The effect of sound on human bodies is very serious.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">23. Accordingly, no authority would grant permission to use microphones without having any regard to the rights of the fellow citizens or the people of the area. Such a sound pollution cannot be altogether stopped, but the sound level has to be reduced in such a manner and in such a form so that the sound may not travel beyond a certain limit, as for example, in a public meeting microphones or amplifiers may be necessary so that the listeners may hear the speeches delivered by the leaders and for that purpose the sound has to be regulated in such a manner so that it may not travel beyond a reasonable limit and/or such a sound cannot be allowed to travel beyond the zone in which the listeners are there.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">24. In a religious place or congregation, the use of microphones should be limited to the persons or the followers or the disciples who are there so that they may hear and know, they may follow and understand what is meant for them. No. person and/or organization cannot be allowed to use microphones at a high noise level or without any volume control.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">25. So far as right of religious organisations to use loudspeaker or amplifier is concerned that right is not an independent right under Article 25 of the <a href="/act/51737/constitution-of-india-complete-act">Constitution of India</a>. Article 25(1) of the <a href="/act/51737/constitution-of-india-complete-act">Constitution of India</a> provides that subject to public order, morality and health and to the other provisions of this part, all persons and equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">26. The Supreme Court in the case of Narendra Prasad v. State of Gujarat, reported in : [1975]2SCR317 , has considered the aspect of the matter that Article 19(1) confers various rights specified therein from (a) to (g) of the said Article for the citizen. The right under Article 25 of the Constitution is subject to the rights of Article 19. This case is the clear authority for the proposition that while exercising a right under Article 25 no person can interfere with, take away or abridge the right of a citizen guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">27. Any provision of law authorising the police and/or the administration to grant permission for using of loud-speaker cannot be absolute, uncontrolled and independent of constitutional rights. All laws in this behalf are subject to the provisions of Article 19 of the Constitution as there cannot be any law which may interfere with, abridge or take away the right as guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution save and except the provisions laid down in Article 19(2) of the Constitution. Use of loud-speaker cannot be said to be a reasonable restriction on the freedom of speech and expression. Even Article 25 of the Constitution grants freedom of conscience and expression. Freedom of conscience is followed up by the right to free profess, practice and propagation of religion. Use of loud-speaker emanates noise which is not only a nuisance, but also a pollution. In United Kingdom for the purpose of controlling noise it is mandatory to keep a register in accordance with the regulations which is known as 'Control of Noise (Measurement and Register) Regulation, 1976 and that the said register must be open to free public inspection at the public office of the authorities at all reasonable hours and with all reasonable facilities for obtaining copies of entries at a reasonable charge. There is a specific Act known as 'Control and Pollution Act, 1974'.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">28. In West Bengal there is an authority known as 'West Bengal Pollution Control Board'. The tremendous sound and/or noise emanated from use of loud-speaker has to be controlled by all means inasmuch as use of such loud-speaker and/or microphones is a serious threat to public life and health.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">29. Accordingly, it must be held that powers of the Police, District Magistrates or Sub-Divisional Officers to grant permission to use microphones is subject to certain restrictions and conditions which are necessary in order to protect and preserve a very fundamental right of citizen under Article 19(1)(a) of the <a href="/act/51737/constitution-of-india-complete-act">Constitution of India</a> on the following terms:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(a) The Pollution Control Board shall maintain noise level registers for measuring the level of noise;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(b) The said authority shall indicate the level of noise which could be permitted by use of microphones on any occasion;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(c) Powers of the District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Officers and other authorities are subject to any direction and/or conditions imposed by the West Bengal Pollution Board;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(d) The person or persons or any business house dealing with or letting or selling the microphones/loud-speakers and the operating apparatus shall be bound to seal the volume and the noise level according to the directions of the Pollution Control Board, before letting or parting with or selling such apparatus for any purpose. In default thereof, they should not be permitted to deal with such items. For this purpose, the Pollution Control Board shall issue directions from time to time in this behalf.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(e) Loud-speakers should not be allowed to' operate in the streets between 9 p.m. in the evening and 7 in the following morning for any purpose at any time including for the purpose of advertisement of any entertainment, trade or business. However, this restriction shall not operate in respect of loud-speakers operating by the police, Ambulance or Fire-Brigade in the exercise of any of the functions or by local authority within its area and for making announcement or making a declaration or giving some information which is necessary to the public subject to such level of volume as specified by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If a loud-speaker is in or fixed to a vehicle is operated solely for entertaining or communicating to the driver or passenger of the vehicle or for giving warning to other traffic and so operated without causing any annoyance to any person of the vicinity;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For communicating with persons on a vessel for the purpose of directing them movement of that or any other vessel;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If the loud-speaker forms part of a public telephone system; so far as use of microphones and/or loud-speakers by any religious organisation or at any religious place or for the use of religious communication it should also be used solely for the purpose of communication the speeches and/or religious teachings and/ or tenets to the persons who have attended such functions and so operated has not to give reasonable cause for annoyance to any person in the vicinity.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">30. The volume and noise level should be approved by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board and the same should be enforced by the police and the administration. So far as public meeting is concerned, the same should be used in such a manner with such a volume which should not exceed the level fixed by the Pollution Control Board which should be treated as registered level and the volume may be regulated in such a fashion so that it may reach to all persons who join in the meeting in a particular area and not beyond that. It should not be operated in such a manner so as to give reasonable cause of annoyance to the persons in the vicinity.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">31. Before granting any permission the purpose of use of microphones and/or loud-speakers and the area where such machines would be fitted, the police authorities will inspect and seal the noise level in that particular microphones apparatus so that on no occasion the noise level exceeds the fixed and registered noise level. A noise level register should be maintained by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board under the control and supervision of the Member-Secretary. The Member-Secretary of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board or any other person authorised by him is given liberty to enter in any place with the help of police for the purpose of ascertaining whether the noise level has exceeded the registered noise level fixed by the said Noise Control Board, and if it is found that there any contravention, the police will immediately seize and confiscate such loud-speakers and start necessary case for causing nuisance and/or annoyance in accordance with the provisions of law so that the offenders may not go unpunished. All concerned authorities including the State Government and officers must remember that this restriction of noise level is necessary in the interest of public health and is a matter not to be ignored inasmuch as ultimately this unregulated noise will cause a threat to the life and health of the people of the State and it is the duty of the State to preserve and protect the liberty of thought and expression and/or freedom of speech and expression as guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the <a href="/act/51737/constitution-of-india-complete-act">Constitution of India</a> and by indiscrimination and unregulated use of microphones people of the vicinity cannot be kept as mere captive listeners and their rights cannot be forcibly suspended by any people or organisation simply on the basis of administrative order obtained from the public authority by indiscriminate use of microphones or loud-speakers. It should be the endeavour of the State Government to preserve and protect fundamental rights of citizens, otherwise the said fundamental right as guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution will become a more lip service to the people. These conditions and restrictions should be imposed rigorously throughout the State and within a period of two months from the date of communication of this order and the Member-Secretary of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board shall submit a report to this Court about the compliance and steps taken in the matter in respect of aforesaid order. The writ petition is thus disposed of with the mandatory directions.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">32. Following these guidelines, the Respondent concern shall grant permissions to use loud-speakers to the petitioner according to law.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">33. Let a copy of the order be forwarded to the Honey. Secretary, Government of West Bengal, who is required to forward copies of this order to all the District Authorities including to District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Officers, Superintendents of Police as also the Commissioner of Police, Calcutta, so that they may discharge their duties in this regard in respect of use of microphones/loud-speakers in this State.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">34. Let a copy of this order be forwarded to the Member-Secretary, West Bengal Pollution Control Board, 10 Camac Street, Calcutta, for taking necessary steps and complaints.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">35. The Registrar, Appellate Side, of this Court is also directed to forward copies of this order to the Calcutta Doordarshan and the All India Radio at Calcutta as this is a matter of great public importance for regular announcement though their media so that everybody shall know their duties and obligations in respect of use of microphones/loud-speakers.<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => '', 'pubs' => '(1996)2CALLT474(HC),100CWN617', 'ratiodecidendi' => '', 'respondent' => 'The State and ors.', 'sub' => 'Constitution', 'link' => null, 'circuit' => null ) ) $args = array( (int) 0 => '876778' ) $pattern = '/\(((0[1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[01])[.](0[1-9]|1[012])[.](17|18|19|20)[0-9]{2}).*\)/'include - APP/View/Case/meta.ctp, line 36 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
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No. 4303(W) of 1995', 'appellant' => 'Om Birangana Religious Society Through Kalipada Das', 'authreffered' => '', 'casename' => 'Om Birangana Religious Society Through Kalipada Das Vs. the State and ors.', 'casenote' => ' - ', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => 'Narendra Prasad v. State of Gujarat;', 'citingcases' => '', 'counselplain' => 'Saradindu Samanta, Adv.', 'counseldef' => '', 'court' => 'Kolkata', 'court_type' => 'HC', 'decidedon' => '1996-04-01', 'deposition' => '', 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => 'Bhagabati Prosad Banerjee, J.', 'judgement' => '<p style="text-align: justify;">Bhagabati Prosad Banerjee, J.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">1. In this writ application, the petitioner, a religious organisation, claims that the respondents should not interfere with the right of user of microphones, loud-speakers, and for amplifying human voice and for amplifying other sounds while playing daily pujas and other religious activities and display of religious songs. The petitioner prayed for a writ in the nature of Mandamus commanding the District Magistrate and/or the Sub-Divisional Officer, Ghatal, to accord necessary permission in favour of the said society in terms of Section 34A of the Police Act, 1963, (West Bengal Amendment).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">2. The point raised in this writ application is of great public importance and significance. Section 34A of the <a href="/act/51730/police-act-1861-complete-act">Police Act, 1861</a>, as amended by the West Bengal Act 38 of 1963, reads as follows:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">'34A. Power to prohibit, restrict, regulate or impose conditions on the use of microphones, etc., (1) If, in the opinion of the Magistrate of the district or any Sub-Divisional Magistrate or Magistrate of the first class, it is necessary so to do for the purpose of preventing annoyance to, or injury to the health of, the public or any section thereof, or for the purpose of maintaining public peace and tranquillity, he may, by order, prohibit, restrict, regulate or impose conditions on, the use or operation, in any area with his jurisdiction or in any vehicle within such area of microphones, loud-speakers or other apparatus for amplifying human voice or for amplifying music or other sounds.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(2) The State Government may, on its own motion or on the representation of any person or persons aggrieved, modify, alter or cancel any order made under Sub-section(l).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(3) A police officer, not below the rank of Sub-Inspector, may take such steps or use such force as may be reasonably necessary for securing compliance with any order made under Sub-section (1) or any such order as modified or altered by the State Government under Sub-section (2) and may seize any microphone, loud-speaker or other apparatus used or operated in contravention of the order.'</p><p style="text-align: justify;">3. It is the case of the petitioner that microphones are required by the society during puja performance, arati, nitya puja, etc., and that nobody ever raised any objection to the performance of the aforesaid religious activities in the manner and in the way as had been done, but the Sub-Divisional Officer, Ghatal, directed the petitioner/society not to use any microphone while performing puja and other religious activities without serving any notice in the month of September, 1993.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">4. It also appears that the petitioner filed an application before the Sub-Divisional Officer, Ghatal, on October 11, 1993, so that permission would be granted in favour of the said society for use of microphones.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">5. Similar application was filed by the petitioner before the Circle Inspector of Police, Ghatal, on 17th October, 1993, so that necessary permission may be granted in favour of the said society for the use of the microphones for the aforesaid purpose.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">6. The petitioner has alleged inaction on the part of the District Magistrate or the Sub-Divisional Magistrate to deal with and dispose of the petitioner's application for permission to use microphone.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">7. Section 34A of the <a href="/act/51730/police-act-1861-complete-act">Police Act, 1861</a>, provided power to prohibit, restrict, regulate or impose conditions on the use of microphones, if in the opinion of the Magistrate of the District or any Sub-Divisional Magistrate or a Magistrate of the First Class it is necessary so to do for the purpose of preventing annoyance or injury to health of the public or any section thereof or for the purpose of maintaining public peace and tranquillity, such officer may, by an order, prohibit, restrict or regulate or impose conditions on the use or operation in any area within his jurisdiction or in any vehicle within such area of microphones or loudspeakers or other apparatus for amplifying human voice or for amplifying music and other sounds.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">8. Under Sub-section (3) thereof, the police officer not below the rank of Sub-Inspector, may also take such steps or use such force as may be reasonably necessary for securing compliance with any order made under Sub-section (1) and may also take penal action.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">9. It is not in dispute that for use of microphones permission is required from the authorities and that the authority, it appears that, is the sole authority to allow or not to disallow and/or to prohibit and/or to restrict, regulate and/or to control the use of microphones.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">10. The rights of the petitioner or any association, religious or otherwise, cannot be said to be absolute, nor it can be said that the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Officer or the police authorities are the absolute authority in the matter of granting of such permission without having any regard to other factors.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">11. Article 19(1)(a) provides Fundamental Rights on all citizens to Freedom of Speech and Expression, and that this right is only subject to restriction imposable under Article 19(2) of the Constitution. The reasonable restriction on the exercise of freedom of speech and expression could be imposed in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with the foreign State, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of Court, defamation, incitement to an offence.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">12. The freedom of speech and expression of a citizen should not be interfered with save and except in accordance with the provisions of Article 19(2) of the Constitution. It is a matter to consider whether the public are captive audience or listeners when permission is given for using loud-speakers in public and the person who is otherwise unwilling to bear the sound and/or the music or the communication made by the loud-speakers, but he is compelled to tolerate all these things against his will and health. If permission is granted to use microphones at a louder voice, such a course of action takes away the rights of a citizen to speak with others, the right to read or the right to know and the right to sleep and rest or to think any matter. Can it be said that a person and/or an organization simply applying a permission and after obtaining permission is entitled to display loud-speakers from local authorities? Does it concern simply a law and order situation? Does it not generate sound pollution? Does it not affect the other known rights of a citizen? Even if a citizen is ill and even if such a sound may create adverse effect on his physical and mental condition, yet he is made a captive audience to listen.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">13. Freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the <a href="/act/51737/constitution-of-india-complete-act">Constitution of India</a> includes, by necessary implication, freedom not to listen and/or to remain silent. One cannot exercise his right at the cost and in total deprivation of others' rights. A right cannot be conferred by the authorities concerned upon a person or a religious organization to exercise their rights suspending and/or taking away the rights of others.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">14. In this connection, Mr. Samanta, learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner, submitted that right to propagate religion is guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution. Article 25(1) of the Constitution provides that subject to public order, morality and health and to other provisions of Part-Ill of the Constitution, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience, and that right to freely profess, practise and propagate religion.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">15. It is well-settled that the right to propagate one's religion means the right to communicate a person's belief to another or to expose the tenets of that faith. The question is whether the right to propagate religion includes the right to use loud-speakers and microphones for the purpose of chanting religious tenets or religious texts and/or the indiscriminate use of microphones or loud-speakers during religious performance in the society.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">16. Freedom of speech is guaranteed to every citizen so that he may reach with the minds of willingness and not coerced unwillingness.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">17. There cannot be any dispute that sound is a known source of pollution. The adverse and ill effect of sound on human body is also known. It has a tremendous impact on the nervous system of human being.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">18. The American Supreme Court, in the case of Ward v. Rock Against Racism, 491 US 781, upheld the city regulations designed to regulate the volume of excessively amplified music at the Naumberg Acoustic Bandshell in New York City's Central Park, to protect those who use a quiet, recreational area of the park called the Sheep Meadow and also to protect resistance in Central Park West area.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">19. In this case, the American Supreme Court rejected the challenge to these city noise regulations.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">20. The religion that has been performed by the petitioner and others, is nothing new, but the same is there for several centuries. It cannot be said that the religious teachers or the spiritual leaders who had laid down these tenets, had any way desired the use of microphones as a means of performance of religion. Undoubtedly, one can practise, profess and propagate religion, as guaranteed under Article 25(1) of the Constitution, but that is not an absolute right. The provisions of Article 25 is subject to the provisions of Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. On true and proper construction of the provisions of Article 25(1), read with Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, it cannot be said that a citizen should be coerced to hear anything which he does not like or which he does not require.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">21. Amplifier and microphone create tremendous noise and sounds which may travel at least half to one kilometre away. Having regard to the provisions of Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, it cannot be said that the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Officer and the police authorities are the sole authority who can grant at will permission without having any regard to the fundamental rights of the fellow citizens. Such authorities, by granting permission to display microphone, cannot make the public the captive listeners. The citizens have a right enjoy lives in the way they like, without violating any of the provisions of the law. A citizen has a right to leisure, right to sleep, right not to hear and right to remain silent. He has also the right to read and speak with others. Use of microphones certainly takes away the right of the citizens to speak with others, their right to read or think or the right to sleep. There may be heart patients or patients suffering from nervous disorder may be compelled to bear this serious impact of sound pollution which has had an adverse effect on them. It may create health problems.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">22. Pollution is a factor which has now a prime importance in the modern society. The effect of sound on human bodies is very serious.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">23. Accordingly, no authority would grant permission to use microphones without having any regard to the rights of the fellow citizens or the people of the area. Such a sound pollution cannot be altogether stopped, but the sound level has to be reduced in such a manner and in such a form so that the sound may not travel beyond a certain limit, as for example, in a public meeting microphones or amplifiers may be necessary so that the listeners may hear the speeches delivered by the leaders and for that purpose the sound has to be regulated in such a manner so that it may not travel beyond a reasonable limit and/or such a sound cannot be allowed to travel beyond the zone in which the listeners are there.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">24. In a religious place or congregation, the use of microphones should be limited to the persons or the followers or the disciples who are there so that they may hear and know, they may follow and understand what is meant for them. No. person and/or organization cannot be allowed to use microphones at a high noise level or without any volume control.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">25. So far as right of religious organisations to use loudspeaker or amplifier is concerned that right is not an independent right under Article 25 of the <a href="/act/51737/constitution-of-india-complete-act">Constitution of India</a>. Article 25(1) of the <a href="/act/51737/constitution-of-india-complete-act">Constitution of India</a> provides that subject to public order, morality and health and to the other provisions of this part, all persons and equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">26. The Supreme Court in the case of Narendra Prasad v. State of Gujarat, reported in : [1975]2SCR317 , has considered the aspect of the matter that Article 19(1) confers various rights specified therein from (a) to (g) of the said Article for the citizen. The right under Article 25 of the Constitution is subject to the rights of Article 19. This case is the clear authority for the proposition that while exercising a right under Article 25 no person can interfere with, take away or abridge the right of a citizen guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">27. Any provision of law authorising the police and/or the administration to grant permission for using of loud-speaker cannot be absolute, uncontrolled and independent of constitutional rights. All laws in this behalf are subject to the provisions of Article 19 of the Constitution as there cannot be any law which may interfere with, abridge or take away the right as guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution save and except the provisions laid down in Article 19(2) of the Constitution. Use of loud-speaker cannot be said to be a reasonable restriction on the freedom of speech and expression. Even Article 25 of the Constitution grants freedom of conscience and expression. Freedom of conscience is followed up by the right to free profess, practice and propagation of religion. Use of loud-speaker emanates noise which is not only a nuisance, but also a pollution. In United Kingdom for the purpose of controlling noise it is mandatory to keep a register in accordance with the regulations which is known as 'Control of Noise (Measurement and Register) Regulation, 1976 and that the said register must be open to free public inspection at the public office of the authorities at all reasonable hours and with all reasonable facilities for obtaining copies of entries at a reasonable charge. There is a specific Act known as 'Control and Pollution Act, 1974'.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">28. In West Bengal there is an authority known as 'West Bengal Pollution Control Board'. The tremendous sound and/or noise emanated from use of loud-speaker has to be controlled by all means inasmuch as use of such loud-speaker and/or microphones is a serious threat to public life and health.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">29. Accordingly, it must be held that powers of the Police, District Magistrates or Sub-Divisional Officers to grant permission to use microphones is subject to certain restrictions and conditions which are necessary in order to protect and preserve a very fundamental right of citizen under Article 19(1)(a) of the <a href="/act/51737/constitution-of-india-complete-act">Constitution of India</a> on the following terms:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(a) The Pollution Control Board shall maintain noise level registers for measuring the level of noise;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(b) The said authority shall indicate the level of noise which could be permitted by use of microphones on any occasion;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(c) Powers of the District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Officers and other authorities are subject to any direction and/or conditions imposed by the West Bengal Pollution Board;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(d) The person or persons or any business house dealing with or letting or selling the microphones/loud-speakers and the operating apparatus shall be bound to seal the volume and the noise level according to the directions of the Pollution Control Board, before letting or parting with or selling such apparatus for any purpose. In default thereof, they should not be permitted to deal with such items. For this purpose, the Pollution Control Board shall issue directions from time to time in this behalf.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(e) Loud-speakers should not be allowed to' operate in the streets between 9 p.m. in the evening and 7 in the following morning for any purpose at any time including for the purpose of advertisement of any entertainment, trade or business. However, this restriction shall not operate in respect of loud-speakers operating by the police, Ambulance or Fire-Brigade in the exercise of any of the functions or by local authority within its area and for making announcement or making a declaration or giving some information which is necessary to the public subject to such level of volume as specified by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If a loud-speaker is in or fixed to a vehicle is operated solely for entertaining or communicating to the driver or passenger of the vehicle or for giving warning to other traffic and so operated without causing any annoyance to any person of the vicinity;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For communicating with persons on a vessel for the purpose of directing them movement of that or any other vessel;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If the loud-speaker forms part of a public telephone system; so far as use of microphones and/or loud-speakers by any religious organisation or at any religious place or for the use of religious communication it should also be used solely for the purpose of communication the speeches and/or religious teachings and/ or tenets to the persons who have attended such functions and so operated has not to give reasonable cause for annoyance to any person in the vicinity.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">30. The volume and noise level should be approved by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board and the same should be enforced by the police and the administration. So far as public meeting is concerned, the same should be used in such a manner with such a volume which should not exceed the level fixed by the Pollution Control Board which should be treated as registered level and the volume may be regulated in such a fashion so that it may reach to all persons who join in the meeting in a particular area and not beyond that. It should not be operated in such a manner so as to give reasonable cause of annoyance to the persons in the vicinity.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">31. Before granting any permission the purpose of use of microphones and/or loud-speakers and the area where such machines would be fitted, the police authorities will inspect and seal the noise level in that particular microphones apparatus so that on no occasion the noise level exceeds the fixed and registered noise level. A noise level register should be maintained by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board under the control and supervision of the Member-Secretary. The Member-Secretary of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board or any other person authorised by him is given liberty to enter in any place with the help of police for the purpose of ascertaining whether the noise level has exceeded the registered noise level fixed by the said Noise Control Board, and if it is found that there any contravention, the police will immediately seize and confiscate such loud-speakers and start necessary case for causing nuisance and/or annoyance in accordance with the provisions of law so that the offenders may not go unpunished. All concerned authorities including the State Government and officers must remember that this restriction of noise level is necessary in the interest of public health and is a matter not to be ignored inasmuch as ultimately this unregulated noise will cause a threat to the life and health of the people of the State and it is the duty of the State to preserve and protect the liberty of thought and expression and/or freedom of speech and expression as guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the <a href="/act/51737/constitution-of-india-complete-act">Constitution of India</a> and by indiscrimination and unregulated use of microphones people of the vicinity cannot be kept as mere captive listeners and their rights cannot be forcibly suspended by any people or organisation simply on the basis of administrative order obtained from the public authority by indiscriminate use of microphones or loud-speakers. It should be the endeavour of the State Government to preserve and protect fundamental rights of citizens, otherwise the said fundamental right as guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution will become a more lip service to the people. These conditions and restrictions should be imposed rigorously throughout the State and within a period of two months from the date of communication of this order and the Member-Secretary of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board shall submit a report to this Court about the compliance and steps taken in the matter in respect of aforesaid order. The writ petition is thus disposed of with the mandatory directions.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">32. Following these guidelines, the Respondent concern shall grant permissions to use loud-speakers to the petitioner according to law.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">33. Let a copy of the order be forwarded to the Honey. Secretary, Government of West Bengal, who is required to forward copies of this order to all the District Authorities including to District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Officers, Superintendents of Police as also the Commissioner of Police, Calcutta, so that they may discharge their duties in this regard in respect of use of microphones/loud-speakers in this State.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">34. Let a copy of this order be forwarded to the Member-Secretary, West Bengal Pollution Control Board, 10 Camac Street, Calcutta, for taking necessary steps and complaints.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">35. The Registrar, Appellate Side, of this Court is also directed to forward copies of this order to the Calcutta Doordarshan and the All India Radio at Calcutta as this is a matter of great public importance for regular announcement though their media so that everybody shall know their duties and obligations in respect of use of microphones/loud-speakers.<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => '', 'pubs' => '(1996)2CALLT474(HC),100CWN617', 'ratiodecidendi' => '', 'respondent' => 'The State and ors.', 'sub' => 'Constitution', 'link' => null, 'circuit' => null ) ), 'args' => array( (int) 0 => '876778' ) ) $title_for_layout = 'Om Birangana Religious Society Through Kalipada Das Vs. the State and ors. Semantic Analysis' $shops = array( 'LAW' => array( (int) 0 => 'Section 34A of the Police Act', (int) 1 => 'the Police Act', (int) 2 => 'the Police Act', (int) 3 => 'Article 19(1)(a', (int) 4 => 'Article 19(2', (int) 5 => 'Constitution', (int) 6 => 'Article 19(2', (int) 7 => 'Constitution', (int) 8 => 'Article 19(1)(a', (int) 9 => 'Article 25 of the Constitution', (int) 10 => 'Article 25(1', (int) 11 => 'Constitution', (int) 12 => 'Constitution', (int) 13 => 'Article 25(1', (int) 14 => 'Constitution', (int) 15 => 'Article 25', (int) 16 => 'Article 19(1)(a', (int) 17 => 'Constitution', (int) 18 => 'Article 25(1', (int) 19 => 'Article 19(1)(a', (int) 20 => 'Constitution', (int) 21 => 'Article 19(1)(a', (int) 22 => 'Constitution', (int) 23 => 'Article 25 of the Constitution of India', (int) 24 => 'Article 25(1', (int) 25 => 'Article 19(1', (int) 26 => 'Article for the citizen', (int) 27 => 'Article 25 of the Constitution', (int) 28 => 'Article 19', (int) 29 => 'Article 25', (int) 30 => 'Article 19(1)(a', (int) 31 => 'Article 19 of the Constitution as', (int) 32 => 'Article 19(1)(a', (int) 33 => 'Constitution', (int) 34 => 'Article 19(2', (int) 35 => 'Constitution', (int) 36 => 'Article 25 of the Constitution', (int) 37 => 'Control and Pollution Act', (int) 38 => 'Article 19(1)(a', (int) 39 => 'Article 19(1)(a', (int) 40 => 'Article 19(1)(a', (int) 41 => 'Constitution' ), 'PERSON' => array( (int) 0 => 'Prosad Banerjee', (int) 1 => 'Ghatal', (int) 2 => 'Magistrate', (int) 3 => 'Ghatal', (int) 4 => 'Ghatal', (int) 5 => 'Samanta', (int) 6 => 'Amplifier', (int) 7 => 'vicinity;For', (int) 8 => 'complaints.35' ), 'NORP' => array( (int) 0 => 'J.1', (int) 1 => 'Mandamus' ), 'DATE' => array( (int) 0 => 'daily', (int) 1 => '1963', (int) 2 => '1861', (int) 3 => '1963', (int) 4 => 'the month of September', (int) 5 => 'October 11, 1993', (int) 6 => '17th October, 1993', (int) 7 => '1861', (int) 8 => 'several centuries', (int) 9 => '1976', (int) 10 => 'a period of', (int) 11 => 'two months' ), 'ORG' => array( (int) 0 => 'District Magistrate', (int) 1 => 'the Sub-Divisional Officer', (int) 2 => 'the Magistrate of the district or', (int) 3 => 'Sub-Divisional Magistrate', (int) 4 => 'The State Government', (int) 5 => 'Sub-Inspector', (int) 6 => 'the State Government', (int) 7 => 'the Sub-Divisional Officer', (int) 8 => 'the Sub-Divisional Officer', (int) 9 => 'the District Magistrate', (int) 10 => 'the Sub-Divisional Magistrate', (int) 11 => 'the Magistrate of the District or', (int) 12 => 'Sub-Divisional Magistrate', (int) 13 => 'Sub-Inspector', (int) 14 => 'the District Magistrate', (int) 15 => 'Sub-Divisional', (int) 16 => 'Fundamental Rights', (int) 17 => 'Freedom of Speech and Expression', (int) 18 => 'State', (int) 19 => 'State', (int) 20 => 'Court', (int) 21 => 'The American Supreme Court', (int) 22 => 'Ward', (int) 23 => 'US 781', (int) 24 => 'the American Supreme Court', (int) 25 => 'the District Magistrate', (int) 26 => 'Sub-Divisional', (int) 27 => 'The Supreme Court', (int) 28 => 'Narendra Prasad v. State of', (int) 29 => 'Measurement and Register) Regulation', (int) 30 => 'Pollution Control Board'', (int) 31 => 'The Pollution Control Board', (int) 32 => 'the District Magistrates', (int) 33 => 'the Pollution Control Board', (int) 34 => 'the Pollution Control Board', (int) 35 => 'Fire-Brigade', (int) 36 => 'the Pollution Control Board', (int) 37 => 'Noise Control Board', (int) 38 => 'the State Government', (int) 39 => 'State', (int) 40 => 'State', (int) 41 => 'the State Government', (int) 42 => 'State', (int) 43 => 'Control Board', (int) 44 => 'Court', (int) 45 => 'Honey', (int) 46 => 'Government of West Bengal', (int) 47 => 'Calcutta', (int) 48 => 'Pollution Control Board', (int) 49 => 'Registrar', (int) 50 => 'Appellate Side', (int) 51 => 'Court', (int) 52 => 'the Calcutta Doordarshan', (int) 53 => 'the All India Radio' ), 'CARDINAL' => array( (int) 0 => '1', (int) 1 => '1', (int) 2 => '2', (int) 3 => '1993.4', (int) 4 => '3', (int) 5 => '1', (int) 6 => '491', (int) 7 => 'at least half', (int) 8 => '1975]2SCR317', (int) 9 => '1974'.28', (int) 10 => '7', (int) 11 => '10' ), 'ORDINAL' => array( (int) 0 => 'first', (int) 1 => 'First', (int) 2 => 'there.24' ), 'GPE' => array( (int) 0 => 'microphones.10', (int) 1 => 'India', (int) 2 => 'New York City's', (int) 3 => 'India', (int) 4 => 'Gujarat', (int) 5 => 'United Kingdom', (int) 6 => 'West Bengal', (int) 7 => 'Police', (int) 8 => 'District Magistrates' ), 'WORK_OF_ART' => array( (int) 0 => 'the Constitution of India', (int) 1 => 'the Constitution of India', (int) 2 => 'the Constitution of India' ), 'FAC' => array( (int) 0 => 'the Naumberg Acoustic Bandshell', (int) 1 => 'Camac Street' ), 'LOC' => array( (int) 0 => 'Central Park', (int) 1 => 'Central Park West', (int) 2 => 'Respondent' ), 'PRODUCT' => array( (int) 0 => 'the Sheep Meadow', (int) 1 => 'Calcutta' ), 'QUANTITY' => array( (int) 0 => 'one kilometre' ), 'TIME' => array( (int) 0 => 'between 9 p.m. in the evening' ) ) $desc = array( 'Judgement' => array( 'id' => '876778', 'acts' => '<a href="/act/51737/constitution-of-india-complete-act">Constitution of India</a> - Articles 19(1), 19(2) and 25; ;<a href="/act/51730/police-act-1861-complete-act">Police Act, 1861</a> - Sections 7 and 34A; ;West Bengal Police (Amendment) Act, 1963', 'appealno' => 'C.O. No. 4303(W) of 1995', 'appellant' => 'Om Birangana Religious Society Through Kalipada Das', 'authreffered' => '', 'casename' => 'Om Birangana Religious Society Through Kalipada Das Vs. the State and ors.', 'casenote' => ' - ', 'caseanalysis' => null, 'casesref' => 'Narendra Prasad v. State of Gujarat;', 'citingcases' => '', 'counselplain' => 'Saradindu Samanta, Adv.', 'counseldef' => '', 'court' => 'Kolkata', 'court_type' => 'HC', 'decidedon' => '1996-04-01', 'deposition' => '', 'favorof' => null, 'findings' => null, 'judge' => 'Bhagabati Prosad Banerjee, J.', 'judgement' => '<p style="text-align: justify;">Bhagabati Prosad Banerjee, J.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">1. In this writ application, the petitioner, a religious organisation, claims that the respondents should not interfere with the right of user of microphones, loud-speakers, and for amplifying human voice and for amplifying other sounds while playing daily pujas and other religious activities and display of religious songs. The petitioner prayed for a writ in the nature of Mandamus commanding the District Magistrate and/or the Sub-Divisional Officer, Ghatal, to accord necessary permission in favour of the said society in terms of Section 34A of the Police Act, 1963, (West Bengal Amendment).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">2. The point raised in this writ application is of great public importance and significance. Section 34A of the <a href="/act/51730/police-act-1861-complete-act">Police Act, 1861</a>, as amended by the West Bengal Act 38 of 1963, reads as follows:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">'34A. Power to prohibit, restrict, regulate or impose conditions on the use of microphones, etc., (1) If, in the opinion of the Magistrate of the district or any Sub-Divisional Magistrate or Magistrate of the first class, it is necessary so to do for the purpose of preventing annoyance to, or injury to the health of, the public or any section thereof, or for the purpose of maintaining public peace and tranquillity, he may, by order, prohibit, restrict, regulate or impose conditions on, the use or operation, in any area with his jurisdiction or in any vehicle within such area of microphones, loud-speakers or other apparatus for amplifying human voice or for amplifying music or other sounds.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(2) The State Government may, on its own motion or on the representation of any person or persons aggrieved, modify, alter or cancel any order made under Sub-section(l).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(3) A police officer, not below the rank of Sub-Inspector, may take such steps or use such force as may be reasonably necessary for securing compliance with any order made under Sub-section (1) or any such order as modified or altered by the State Government under Sub-section (2) and may seize any microphone, loud-speaker or other apparatus used or operated in contravention of the order.'</p><p style="text-align: justify;">3. It is the case of the petitioner that microphones are required by the society during puja performance, arati, nitya puja, etc., and that nobody ever raised any objection to the performance of the aforesaid religious activities in the manner and in the way as had been done, but the Sub-Divisional Officer, Ghatal, directed the petitioner/society not to use any microphone while performing puja and other religious activities without serving any notice in the month of September, 1993.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">4. It also appears that the petitioner filed an application before the Sub-Divisional Officer, Ghatal, on October 11, 1993, so that permission would be granted in favour of the said society for use of microphones.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">5. Similar application was filed by the petitioner before the Circle Inspector of Police, Ghatal, on 17th October, 1993, so that necessary permission may be granted in favour of the said society for the use of the microphones for the aforesaid purpose.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">6. The petitioner has alleged inaction on the part of the District Magistrate or the Sub-Divisional Magistrate to deal with and dispose of the petitioner's application for permission to use microphone.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">7. Section 34A of the <a href="/act/51730/police-act-1861-complete-act">Police Act, 1861</a>, provided power to prohibit, restrict, regulate or impose conditions on the use of microphones, if in the opinion of the Magistrate of the District or any Sub-Divisional Magistrate or a Magistrate of the First Class it is necessary so to do for the purpose of preventing annoyance or injury to health of the public or any section thereof or for the purpose of maintaining public peace and tranquillity, such officer may, by an order, prohibit, restrict or regulate or impose conditions on the use or operation in any area within his jurisdiction or in any vehicle within such area of microphones or loudspeakers or other apparatus for amplifying human voice or for amplifying music and other sounds.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">8. Under Sub-section (3) thereof, the police officer not below the rank of Sub-Inspector, may also take such steps or use such force as may be reasonably necessary for securing compliance with any order made under Sub-section (1) and may also take penal action.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">9. It is not in dispute that for use of microphones permission is required from the authorities and that the authority, it appears that, is the sole authority to allow or not to disallow and/or to prohibit and/or to restrict, regulate and/or to control the use of microphones.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">10. The rights of the petitioner or any association, religious or otherwise, cannot be said to be absolute, nor it can be said that the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Officer or the police authorities are the absolute authority in the matter of granting of such permission without having any regard to other factors.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">11. Article 19(1)(a) provides Fundamental Rights on all citizens to Freedom of Speech and Expression, and that this right is only subject to restriction imposable under Article 19(2) of the Constitution. The reasonable restriction on the exercise of freedom of speech and expression could be imposed in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with the foreign State, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of Court, defamation, incitement to an offence.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">12. The freedom of speech and expression of a citizen should not be interfered with save and except in accordance with the provisions of Article 19(2) of the Constitution. It is a matter to consider whether the public are captive audience or listeners when permission is given for using loud-speakers in public and the person who is otherwise unwilling to bear the sound and/or the music or the communication made by the loud-speakers, but he is compelled to tolerate all these things against his will and health. If permission is granted to use microphones at a louder voice, such a course of action takes away the rights of a citizen to speak with others, the right to read or the right to know and the right to sleep and rest or to think any matter. Can it be said that a person and/or an organization simply applying a permission and after obtaining permission is entitled to display loud-speakers from local authorities? Does it concern simply a law and order situation? Does it not generate sound pollution? Does it not affect the other known rights of a citizen? Even if a citizen is ill and even if such a sound may create adverse effect on his physical and mental condition, yet he is made a captive audience to listen.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">13. Freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the <a href="/act/51737/constitution-of-india-complete-act">Constitution of India</a> includes, by necessary implication, freedom not to listen and/or to remain silent. One cannot exercise his right at the cost and in total deprivation of others' rights. A right cannot be conferred by the authorities concerned upon a person or a religious organization to exercise their rights suspending and/or taking away the rights of others.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">14. In this connection, Mr. Samanta, learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner, submitted that right to propagate religion is guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution. Article 25(1) of the Constitution provides that subject to public order, morality and health and to other provisions of Part-Ill of the Constitution, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience, and that right to freely profess, practise and propagate religion.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">15. It is well-settled that the right to propagate one's religion means the right to communicate a person's belief to another or to expose the tenets of that faith. The question is whether the right to propagate religion includes the right to use loud-speakers and microphones for the purpose of chanting religious tenets or religious texts and/or the indiscriminate use of microphones or loud-speakers during religious performance in the society.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">16. Freedom of speech is guaranteed to every citizen so that he may reach with the minds of willingness and not coerced unwillingness.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">17. There cannot be any dispute that sound is a known source of pollution. The adverse and ill effect of sound on human body is also known. It has a tremendous impact on the nervous system of human being.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">18. The American Supreme Court, in the case of Ward v. Rock Against Racism, 491 US 781, upheld the city regulations designed to regulate the volume of excessively amplified music at the Naumberg Acoustic Bandshell in New York City's Central Park, to protect those who use a quiet, recreational area of the park called the Sheep Meadow and also to protect resistance in Central Park West area.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">19. In this case, the American Supreme Court rejected the challenge to these city noise regulations.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">20. The religion that has been performed by the petitioner and others, is nothing new, but the same is there for several centuries. It cannot be said that the religious teachers or the spiritual leaders who had laid down these tenets, had any way desired the use of microphones as a means of performance of religion. Undoubtedly, one can practise, profess and propagate religion, as guaranteed under Article 25(1) of the Constitution, but that is not an absolute right. The provisions of Article 25 is subject to the provisions of Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. On true and proper construction of the provisions of Article 25(1), read with Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, it cannot be said that a citizen should be coerced to hear anything which he does not like or which he does not require.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">21. Amplifier and microphone create tremendous noise and sounds which may travel at least half to one kilometre away. Having regard to the provisions of Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, it cannot be said that the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Officer and the police authorities are the sole authority who can grant at will permission without having any regard to the fundamental rights of the fellow citizens. Such authorities, by granting permission to display microphone, cannot make the public the captive listeners. The citizens have a right enjoy lives in the way they like, without violating any of the provisions of the law. A citizen has a right to leisure, right to sleep, right not to hear and right to remain silent. He has also the right to read and speak with others. Use of microphones certainly takes away the right of the citizens to speak with others, their right to read or think or the right to sleep. There may be heart patients or patients suffering from nervous disorder may be compelled to bear this serious impact of sound pollution which has had an adverse effect on them. It may create health problems.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">22. Pollution is a factor which has now a prime importance in the modern society. The effect of sound on human bodies is very serious.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">23. Accordingly, no authority would grant permission to use microphones without having any regard to the rights of the fellow citizens or the people of the area. Such a sound pollution cannot be altogether stopped, but the sound level has to be reduced in such a manner and in such a form so that the sound may not travel beyond a certain limit, as for example, in a public meeting microphones or amplifiers may be necessary so that the listeners may hear the speeches delivered by the leaders and for that purpose the sound has to be regulated in such a manner so that it may not travel beyond a reasonable limit and/or such a sound cannot be allowed to travel beyond the zone in which the listeners are there.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">24. In a religious place or congregation, the use of microphones should be limited to the persons or the followers or the disciples who are there so that they may hear and know, they may follow and understand what is meant for them. No. person and/or organization cannot be allowed to use microphones at a high noise level or without any volume control.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">25. So far as right of religious organisations to use loudspeaker or amplifier is concerned that right is not an independent right under Article 25 of the <a href="/act/51737/constitution-of-india-complete-act">Constitution of India</a>. Article 25(1) of the <a href="/act/51737/constitution-of-india-complete-act">Constitution of India</a> provides that subject to public order, morality and health and to the other provisions of this part, all persons and equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">26. The Supreme Court in the case of Narendra Prasad v. State of Gujarat, reported in : [1975]2SCR317 , has considered the aspect of the matter that Article 19(1) confers various rights specified therein from (a) to (g) of the said Article for the citizen. The right under Article 25 of the Constitution is subject to the rights of Article 19. This case is the clear authority for the proposition that while exercising a right under Article 25 no person can interfere with, take away or abridge the right of a citizen guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">27. Any provision of law authorising the police and/or the administration to grant permission for using of loud-speaker cannot be absolute, uncontrolled and independent of constitutional rights. All laws in this behalf are subject to the provisions of Article 19 of the Constitution as there cannot be any law which may interfere with, abridge or take away the right as guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution save and except the provisions laid down in Article 19(2) of the Constitution. Use of loud-speaker cannot be said to be a reasonable restriction on the freedom of speech and expression. Even Article 25 of the Constitution grants freedom of conscience and expression. Freedom of conscience is followed up by the right to free profess, practice and propagation of religion. Use of loud-speaker emanates noise which is not only a nuisance, but also a pollution. In United Kingdom for the purpose of controlling noise it is mandatory to keep a register in accordance with the regulations which is known as 'Control of Noise (Measurement and Register) Regulation, 1976 and that the said register must be open to free public inspection at the public office of the authorities at all reasonable hours and with all reasonable facilities for obtaining copies of entries at a reasonable charge. There is a specific Act known as 'Control and Pollution Act, 1974'.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">28. In West Bengal there is an authority known as 'West Bengal Pollution Control Board'. The tremendous sound and/or noise emanated from use of loud-speaker has to be controlled by all means inasmuch as use of such loud-speaker and/or microphones is a serious threat to public life and health.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">29. Accordingly, it must be held that powers of the Police, District Magistrates or Sub-Divisional Officers to grant permission to use microphones is subject to certain restrictions and conditions which are necessary in order to protect and preserve a very fundamental right of citizen under Article 19(1)(a) of the <a href="/act/51737/constitution-of-india-complete-act">Constitution of India</a> on the following terms:</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(a) The Pollution Control Board shall maintain noise level registers for measuring the level of noise;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(b) The said authority shall indicate the level of noise which could be permitted by use of microphones on any occasion;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(c) Powers of the District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Officers and other authorities are subject to any direction and/or conditions imposed by the West Bengal Pollution Board;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(d) The person or persons or any business house dealing with or letting or selling the microphones/loud-speakers and the operating apparatus shall be bound to seal the volume and the noise level according to the directions of the Pollution Control Board, before letting or parting with or selling such apparatus for any purpose. In default thereof, they should not be permitted to deal with such items. For this purpose, the Pollution Control Board shall issue directions from time to time in this behalf.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">(e) Loud-speakers should not be allowed to' operate in the streets between 9 p.m. in the evening and 7 in the following morning for any purpose at any time including for the purpose of advertisement of any entertainment, trade or business. However, this restriction shall not operate in respect of loud-speakers operating by the police, Ambulance or Fire-Brigade in the exercise of any of the functions or by local authority within its area and for making announcement or making a declaration or giving some information which is necessary to the public subject to such level of volume as specified by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If a loud-speaker is in or fixed to a vehicle is operated solely for entertaining or communicating to the driver or passenger of the vehicle or for giving warning to other traffic and so operated without causing any annoyance to any person of the vicinity;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">For communicating with persons on a vessel for the purpose of directing them movement of that or any other vessel;</p><p style="text-align: justify;">If the loud-speaker forms part of a public telephone system; so far as use of microphones and/or loud-speakers by any religious organisation or at any religious place or for the use of religious communication it should also be used solely for the purpose of communication the speeches and/or religious teachings and/ or tenets to the persons who have attended such functions and so operated has not to give reasonable cause for annoyance to any person in the vicinity.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">30. The volume and noise level should be approved by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board and the same should be enforced by the police and the administration. So far as public meeting is concerned, the same should be used in such a manner with such a volume which should not exceed the level fixed by the Pollution Control Board which should be treated as registered level and the volume may be regulated in such a fashion so that it may reach to all persons who join in the meeting in a particular area and not beyond that. It should not be operated in such a manner so as to give reasonable cause of annoyance to the persons in the vicinity.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">31. Before granting any permission the purpose of use of microphones and/or loud-speakers and the area where such machines would be fitted, the police authorities will inspect and seal the noise level in that particular microphones apparatus so that on no occasion the noise level exceeds the fixed and registered noise level. A noise level register should be maintained by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board under the control and supervision of the Member-Secretary. The Member-Secretary of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board or any other person authorised by him is given liberty to enter in any place with the help of police for the purpose of ascertaining whether the noise level has exceeded the registered noise level fixed by the said Noise Control Board, and if it is found that there any contravention, the police will immediately seize and confiscate such loud-speakers and start necessary case for causing nuisance and/or annoyance in accordance with the provisions of law so that the offenders may not go unpunished. All concerned authorities including the State Government and officers must remember that this restriction of noise level is necessary in the interest of public health and is a matter not to be ignored inasmuch as ultimately this unregulated noise will cause a threat to the life and health of the people of the State and it is the duty of the State to preserve and protect the liberty of thought and expression and/or freedom of speech and expression as guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the <a href="/act/51737/constitution-of-india-complete-act">Constitution of India</a> and by indiscrimination and unregulated use of microphones people of the vicinity cannot be kept as mere captive listeners and their rights cannot be forcibly suspended by any people or organisation simply on the basis of administrative order obtained from the public authority by indiscriminate use of microphones or loud-speakers. It should be the endeavour of the State Government to preserve and protect fundamental rights of citizens, otherwise the said fundamental right as guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution will become a more lip service to the people. These conditions and restrictions should be imposed rigorously throughout the State and within a period of two months from the date of communication of this order and the Member-Secretary of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board shall submit a report to this Court about the compliance and steps taken in the matter in respect of aforesaid order. The writ petition is thus disposed of with the mandatory directions.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">32. Following these guidelines, the Respondent concern shall grant permissions to use loud-speakers to the petitioner according to law.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">33. Let a copy of the order be forwarded to the Honey. Secretary, Government of West Bengal, who is required to forward copies of this order to all the District Authorities including to District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Officers, Superintendents of Police as also the Commissioner of Police, Calcutta, so that they may discharge their duties in this regard in respect of use of microphones/loud-speakers in this State.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">34. Let a copy of this order be forwarded to the Member-Secretary, West Bengal Pollution Control Board, 10 Camac Street, Calcutta, for taking necessary steps and complaints.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">35. The Registrar, Appellate Side, of this Court is also directed to forward copies of this order to the Calcutta Doordarshan and the All India Radio at Calcutta as this is a matter of great public importance for regular announcement though their media so that everybody shall know their duties and obligations in respect of use of microphones/loud-speakers.<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;">', 'observations' => null, 'overruledby' => null, 'prhistory' => '', 'pubs' => '(1996)2CALLT474(HC),100CWN617', 'ratiodecidendi' => '', 'respondent' => 'The State and ors.', 'sub' => 'Constitution', 'link' => null, 'circuit' => null ) ) $args = array( (int) 0 => '876778' ) $pattern = '/\(((0[1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[01])[.](0[1-9]|1[012])[.](17|18|19|20)[0-9]{2}).*\)/' $shops2 = nullinclude - APP/View/Case/meta.ctp, line 39 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 109
LAW: Section 34A of the Police Act, the Police Act, the Police Act, Article 19(1)(a, Article 19(2, Constitution, Article 19(2, Constitution, Article 19(1)(a, Article 25 of the Constitution, Article 25(1, Constitution, Constitution, Article 25(1, Constitution, Article 25, Article 19(1)(a, Constitution, Article 25(1, Article 19(1)(a, Constitution, Article 19(1)(a, Constitution, Article 25 of the Constitution of India, Article 25(1, Article 19(1, Article for the citizen, Article 25 of the Constitution, Article 19, Article 25, Article 19(1)(a, Article 19 of the Constitution as, Article 19(1)(a, Constitution, Article 19(2, Constitution, Article 25 of the Constitution, Control and Pollution Act, Article 19(1)(a, Article 19(1)(a, Article 19(1)(a, Constitution
PERSON: Prosad Banerjee, Ghatal, Magistrate, Ghatal, Ghatal, Samanta, Amplifier, vicinity;For, complaints.35
NORP: J.1, Mandamus
DATE: daily, 1963, 1861, 1963, the month of September, October 11, 1993, 17th October, 1993, 1861, several centuries, 1976, a period of, two months
ORG: District Magistrate, the Sub-Divisional Officer, the Magistrate of the district or, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, The State Government, Sub-Inspector, the State Government, the Sub-Divisional Officer, the Sub-Divisional Officer, the District Magistrate, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, the Magistrate of the District or, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Sub-Inspector, the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional, Fundamental Rights, Freedom of Speech and Expression, State, State, Court, The American Supreme Court, Ward, US 781, the American Supreme Court, the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional, The Supreme Court, Narendra Prasad v. State of, Measurement and Register) Regulation, Pollution Control Board', The Pollution Control Board, the District Magistrates, the Pollution Control Board, the Pollution Control Board, Fire-Brigade, the Pollution Control Board, Noise Control Board, the State Government, State, State, the State Government, State, Control Board, Court, Honey, Government of West Bengal, Calcutta, Pollution Control Board, Registrar, Appellate Side, Court, the Calcutta Doordarshan, the All India Radio
CARDINAL: 1, 1, 2, 1993.4, 3, 1, 491, at least half, 1975]2SCR317, 1974'.28, 7, 10
ORDINAL: first, First, there.24
GPE: microphones.10, India, New York City's, India, Gujarat, United Kingdom, West Bengal, Police, District Magistrates
WORK_OF_ART: the Constitution of India, the Constitution of India, the Constitution of India
FAC: the Naumberg Acoustic Bandshell, Camac Street
LOC: Central Park, Central Park West, Respondent
PRODUCT: the Sheep Meadow, Calcutta
QUANTITY: one kilometre
TIME: between 9 p.m. in the evening