.. Now, *midnight mass* will be held in the evenings??? Lawrence ----- See http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200507191610.htm
SC bans use of horns, loudspeakers, crackers after 10 pm New Delhi, July. 19 (PTI): In a huge relief to citizens reeling under excessive sound pollution, the Supreme Court in an omnibus order completely banned across the country use of loudspeakers and vehicular horns and bursting of fire crackers after 2200 hours till 0600 hours near residential areas. In an order that would render late night marriage processions and political rallies shorn off sound and fury, a Bench comprising Chief Justice R C Lahoti and Justice Ashok Bhan yesterday said no loudspeaker could be used in the specified period of the night "except in public emergencies". Putting restrictions on the use of loudspeakers even during the day time, the CJI, writing for the Bench, said the decibel level of the megaphones or public address system should not "exceed 10dB(A) above the ambient noise standards for the area or 75 dB(A) whichever is lower". Coming down heavily on those who play loud music at home as a show off, the apex court said "the noise polluters have no regard for the inconvenience and discomfort of the people in the vicinity" and chastised them saying "no one can claim a right to create noise even in his own premises which would travel beyond his precincts and cause nuisance to neighbours and others." The court said all these prohibitions imposed by it has been done under exercise of its powers under Articles 141 and 142 of the Constitution which rendered them the authority of law of the land till Parliament made suitable legislation.