Patna, Jan. 22: Acting tough on air pollution and pollution in Bihar, the high court today passed several directions to be followed in areas within the municipal limits of the state.

The order was passed by a division bench of acting Chief Justice Iqbal Ahmed Ansari and Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh while hearing a writ petition filed by Samir Kumar.

The court ordered: No one shall beat a drum or tom-tom or blow a trumpet or beat or sound any instrument or use any sound amplifier between 10pm and 6am. No horn should be allowed to be used between 10pm and 6am in residential areas except in exceptional circumstances.

The court further directed: There shall be no bursting of fire crackers of causing noise beyond the prescribed level between 6am and 10pm whereas there shall be a complete ban on bursting sound-emitting firecrackers between 10pm and 6am.

There is no dispute that during marriage ceremonies and on various other occasions/celebrations, playing of music and bursting of crackers take place in violation of statutory prescriptions, the court stated and added there should be no distinction between religious functions or celebrations of any other kind. These directions are required to be followed strictly without any demur, the judges said.

The court said: We have no doubt that the authorities of the state of Bihar and other agencies have acted in utter disregard of the specific directions issued by the Supreme Court way back in the year 2005 with respect to the manufacture and use of fire crackers, loudspeakers and horns.

The district magistrates/senior superintendents of police/superintendent of police/in-charge of the police stations concerned shall ensure strict compliance of this court's order and shall be obliged to take all preventive steps and legal action against the violators of the directions, the bench said, adding that in case of non-compliance of the directions issued, strict action would be taken against the officer-in-charge or other officers concerned.