K'taka HC raps Bengaluru police over noise levels in Indiranagar pubs

The HC called the status report filed by the police as nothing but an "eyewash".
K'taka HC raps Bengaluru police over noise levels in Indiranagar pubs
K'taka HC raps Bengaluru police over noise levels in Indiranagar pubs
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The Karnataka High Court on Thursday came down heavily on Bengaluru police on the issue of noise created by pubs and bars in Indiranagar. Calling the police status report as  “nothing but an eyewash”, the HC also warned that it might have to summon the City Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar for a proper explanation.

The Hindu reported that these oral observations were made by the Division Bench led by Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice HT Narendra Prasad after they found that the police report did not have any definite action taken by police. The HC also inquired if the police had carried out surprise checks related to the issue.

The HC was hearing the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Defence Colony Residents’ Association and others on the issue of excess noise created by these pubs.

When the legal counsel of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board pointed out that police do not have any equipment to monitor noise levels, the HC asked if the police had approached the Pollution Control Board after the case was heard by them.

Upon being informed that police have booked cases of nuisance against some of the pubs, the court asked how the police are going to prove those cases without any evidence. 

The HC also asked how police will measure noise levels if they do not have the equipment for it. 

In reply, the state government counsel assured the court that the status report will be improved upon.

The Times of India reported that police took five witness accounts as evidence to register cases.

TOI quoted a police source saying, “We ask witnesses to stand 100 feet away from the spot and tell us if there is any noise. After reaching the spot, they close their ears and record the sound. If it’s unbearable, they record the same in their statement.”

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