Prohibit election canvassing in court premises
The Issue
To
The Honorable Chief Justice of India,
Supreme Court of India,
Tilak Marg,
New Delhi- 110001.
Respected Sir,
This is to bring to your kind notice a very disturbing and alarming trend that is fast snowballing into uncontrollable proportions in the various court premises in Bangaluru.
Each time there is an election to any representative body of advocates, the court premises especially the City Civil Court, Magistrate Court and Mayo Hall court become hubs of every possible activity that undermines the sanctity of the courts. Candidates are openly distributing money and freebies, lunches and dinners are hosted in court premises, 'prasad' distribution happens in the name of Ganesh Pooja celebrations, folk dance troupes are brought in to perform during court hours, musical nights are organised in the court premises, processions are organised within court premises and cine stars are brought in to glamourise events, the list is endless.
The latest is a shocking incident that took place on 29-11-2024 wherein loud Digi music was played within the premises of the Magistrate Court in violation of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control)Rules, 2000 ('Noise Rules, 2000') in the name of Ganesh Pooja and a chariot was brought into the court premises with advocates indulging in frenzied dancing to item numbers in full public view at the entrance of the court, creating immense inconvenience and nuisance to advocates, litigants and the general public. Not just the actual premises but also an area within a radius of 100 metres of courts, hospitals and educational institutions are considered 'silent zone' and playing music, using sound amplifier or public address system, blowing horns or trumpets, beating drums , playing sounds on any musical instrument, putting up any musical performances are strictly prohibited' under the Noise Rules, 2000. Such prohibited activities took place in the court premises in blatant violation of the strict mandates and manifesting into a public nuisance with everyone in and around the vicinity being forced to close their ears, unable to withstand the high decibel levels. In a silent zone the noise should not exceed 50 decibels during day time and 40 decibels during night. The noise during this celebration on 29-11-2024 was much more than these permissible limits and could be heard even near Khanija Bhavan on one side and near the BBMP office building near N. R. Sqare on the other side which are more than 200 metres away from the Magistrate Court. Also, another 'silent zone' namely St. Martha's hospital is just opposite the Magistrate Court. It was a 'Black Day' with the legal fraternity that is looked up to as an emulative example, being reduced to a public mockery with videos and photos of the event being widely circulated on social media.
Such celebrations are not only in violation of the law but are also undermining the sanctity of court premises and lowering the image of courts and the legal fraternity in the public eye.
This is to request you to kindly take stringent action to prohibit any form of canvassing/campaigning in every court premises not just in Bengaluru but throughout the country, to safeguard and protect the sanctity of our court premises.
Thanking you and in eager anticipation of your effective intervention in the matter.🙏
376
The Issue
To
The Honorable Chief Justice of India,
Supreme Court of India,
Tilak Marg,
New Delhi- 110001.
Respected Sir,
This is to bring to your kind notice a very disturbing and alarming trend that is fast snowballing into uncontrollable proportions in the various court premises in Bangaluru.
Each time there is an election to any representative body of advocates, the court premises especially the City Civil Court, Magistrate Court and Mayo Hall court become hubs of every possible activity that undermines the sanctity of the courts. Candidates are openly distributing money and freebies, lunches and dinners are hosted in court premises, 'prasad' distribution happens in the name of Ganesh Pooja celebrations, folk dance troupes are brought in to perform during court hours, musical nights are organised in the court premises, processions are organised within court premises and cine stars are brought in to glamourise events, the list is endless.
The latest is a shocking incident that took place on 29-11-2024 wherein loud Digi music was played within the premises of the Magistrate Court in violation of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control)Rules, 2000 ('Noise Rules, 2000') in the name of Ganesh Pooja and a chariot was brought into the court premises with advocates indulging in frenzied dancing to item numbers in full public view at the entrance of the court, creating immense inconvenience and nuisance to advocates, litigants and the general public. Not just the actual premises but also an area within a radius of 100 metres of courts, hospitals and educational institutions are considered 'silent zone' and playing music, using sound amplifier or public address system, blowing horns or trumpets, beating drums , playing sounds on any musical instrument, putting up any musical performances are strictly prohibited' under the Noise Rules, 2000. Such prohibited activities took place in the court premises in blatant violation of the strict mandates and manifesting into a public nuisance with everyone in and around the vicinity being forced to close their ears, unable to withstand the high decibel levels. In a silent zone the noise should not exceed 50 decibels during day time and 40 decibels during night. The noise during this celebration on 29-11-2024 was much more than these permissible limits and could be heard even near Khanija Bhavan on one side and near the BBMP office building near N. R. Sqare on the other side which are more than 200 metres away from the Magistrate Court. Also, another 'silent zone' namely St. Martha's hospital is just opposite the Magistrate Court. It was a 'Black Day' with the legal fraternity that is looked up to as an emulative example, being reduced to a public mockery with videos and photos of the event being widely circulated on social media.
Such celebrations are not only in violation of the law but are also undermining the sanctity of court premises and lowering the image of courts and the legal fraternity in the public eye.
This is to request you to kindly take stringent action to prohibit any form of canvassing/campaigning in every court premises not just in Bengaluru but throughout the country, to safeguard and protect the sanctity of our court premises.
Thanking you and in eager anticipation of your effective intervention in the matter.🙏
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Petition created on 2 December 2024