{
  "id": 4388762,
  "title": "Be It Dhol Or DJ, It's The Decibels That Matter",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/be-it-dhol-or-dj-its-the-decibels-that-matter",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-30T08:33:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/analysis/be-it-dhol-or-dj-its-the-decibels-that-matter"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Noise is a subjective irritant, not an objective one. Debates often pit DJs and dhols against each other, but both hold cultural significance, if not religious importance. Selective use of either becomes a matter of cultural comfort, equal opportunity, and artists' livelihood. In Dr Mahesh Vijay Bedekar's case, the Bombay High Court rejected the idea that the culture of noise is protected under Article 25 of the Constitution. It also ruled that noise is an air pollutant, and mandated the establishment of a toll-free number for complaints. However, the challenge to Rule 3, which permits loudspeaker use during cultural or religious festive occasions for up to 15 days in a year, was dismissed. In the Dr M. Ismail Faruqui case, the Apex Court clarified that Article 25 does not guarantee a right to worship anywhere. The Court in Church of God (Full Gospel) also ruled that courts can issue noise control directions even during religious activities. Om Birangana Religious Society recognised the right to silence, sleep, and freedom from unwanted sound. Recently, a DJ-free Ganesh immersion procession took place in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, following Solapur. Maharashtra Pollution Control Board officials have been empowered to file noise pollution complaints. Noise pollution is both a scientific and cultural issue, with the Rules setting noise limits across various areas. Silence zones are required around specified institutions, and loudspeakers cannot exceed the prescribed ambient standards. Under Sections 270, 292, and 293 of the BNS, noise pollution can be addressed. In Dr Kalyani Mandke's case, the NGT limited the total capacity of loudspeakers in a pandal to 100 W, and directed the Police Department to control the number of Dhol Tasha Zanj members during the Visarjan procession. The cultural experiment surrounding noise is not justified. Niranjan Deshpande is an advocate at the Bombay High Court.",
  "summary": "Noise is subjectively irritating, not objectively so. While the same debate is often framed as one between DJs and dhols, either form is integral to culture, if not religion. Its selective use, therefore, becomes a question of cultural comfort, equal opportunity and the livelihood of artists. In Dr Mahesh Vijay Bedekar, the Bombay High Court dealt with the failure to implement the Noise Pollution…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}