On Monday, the Karnataka High Court said that ‘tolerance is the characteristic of the Constitution of India as well as Indian civilisation’. A division bench was headed by Acting Chief Justice Alok Aradha that said “Undoubtedly, the petitioner, as well as believers of other faiths, have the right to practice their religion…However, the contention that the contents of azaan violate the fundamental right guaranteed to the petitioner as well persons of other faiths cannot be accepted.” The authorities were directed to submit a report about noise pollution.
It also said “License for use of loudspeakers, public-address systems, and sound-producing instruments can be issued under rule 5(3) of noise pollution (regulation and control) rules, 2000, read with Section 37 of the Karnataka Police Act, 1963. The respondents are, therefore, directed to ensure that loudspeakers and public address systems and sound-producing instruments, and other musical instruments shall not be permitted to be used beyond the permissible decibel from 10 pm to 6 am,” reported The Times Of India.
