HC asks traffic police about steps to curb noise pollution

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the traffic police to inform it about the steps it proposes to take to remove pressure horns and modified silencers, which make thumping and backfiring sounds, from two wheelers, especially motorcycles.

"Delhi Traffic Police is directed to intimate the court whether these pressure horns and modified silencers are permitted in two wheelers, especially in motorcycles.

It should also inform what steps it proposes to take to remove these pressure horns and modified silencers," A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao said.

If the details are not furnished before the next date of hearing, the court will pass appropriate directions. The court listed the matter for January 24.

It was also informed that the traffic police is likely to file a status report on the petition, in pursuance to its last order, during the day.
The court was hearing a petition by an NGO, Justice for Rights Foundation, and a law student Prateek Sharma seeking a ban on manufacture, sale and use of various kinds of pressure horns, speakers and modified silencers, including those in Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles, in the national capital.

The thumping and backfiring sounds from Royal Enfield Bullet's modified silencers and loud music from vehicular speakers pose a health risk to the people, especially minors, senior citizens and those with medical conditions, apart from contributing to noise pollution, it said.

It claimed that loud sound producing equipments also cause health problems including stress, headache, fatigue, insomnia, irritability, blood pressure variations, cardiac disease and digestive disorders.

The plea, filed through advocate Harpreet Singh Hora, has contended that the vehicular noise pollution menace was rampant in areas like the North Campus here, specifically Malka Ganj, Hudson Lane, Vijay Nagar, Gupta Colony, Chhatra Marg and other areas in and around the Delhi University (DU).