The Gujarat High Court has sought a report from the state government within three days on loudspeaker noise during Navratri, while directing the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) to take immediate action when complaints are received from silent-zone areas, including locations near hospitals.
The directions came during a hearing on noise pollution linked to Navratri celebrations. In an affidavit filed before the court, the state government said surprise checks had recorded a maximum sound level of 80 decibels at some locations. It also said garba events were stopped immediately at places where DJs and loudspeakers were found to be producing higher levels of noise.
The government told the court that an investigation had also been conducted in Veraval following a complaint about a garba event near Mamta Hospital. According to the submission reported by Gujarat Samachar, the sound level recorded near the hospital was between 58 and 60 decibels.
The court stressed that loudspeakers should not be used even at lower volume levels near hospitals. It also told the petitioner to conduct checks independently and immediately inform the state government and the GPCB if excessive noise was found. The GPCB was directed to visit the location and take action as soon as it received such information.
The hearing focused on how sound levels are monitored and enforced during large public celebrations. The court said noise should not be allowed to reach levels that residents cannot tolerate and observed that loudspeaker locations should also be changed where necessary. It directed officials to visit sites and measure the sound levels on the ground rather than rely only on general submissions.
The GPCB told the court that it was not claiming there was no noise pollution, but that the sound levels were only somewhat above the prescribed limits. The petitioner disputed the government’s account and alleged that some garba events continued until 2am rather than ending at midnight.
The state government also submitted that loudspeakers were not being used during street-based garba events. The court’s directions, however, require the authorities to examine individual locations, verify sound levels and respond to complaints during the festival period.
The dispute places enforcement responsibility across several agencies. Police personnel have accompanied checks at some venues, while the GPCB has been asked to conduct spot inspections after receiving complaints. The court’s order also makes hospitals and other silent-zone locations a specific focus of the monitoring process.
The government must now submit the requested report within three days. The report is expected to provide the court with further details on inspections, recorded sound levels, action taken against events and complaints received during Navratri.
