Jadavpur University has “appealed” against playing loudspeakers at a high volume on the campus, saying such high-pitched noise has drawn “sharp criticism from research scholars residing in the nearby hostels, teachers residing in the quarters and people residing in the surrounding areas”.
A notice issued by the registrar and uploaded on the JU website on Wednesday says that since the university is a “silence zone”, the sound limit on the campus is 50 decibel during the daytime and 40 decibel at night.
Playing loudspeakers at a high volume during class hours is “tarnishing the image of the university to the outer world,” says the notice.
“It is also observed that during functions organised at Open Air Theatre…. microphones and loudspeakers are used with very high volume during class hours and late hours in the evening. These are affecting the students and teachers in the classes and during the examination. It has also drawn sharp criticism…” says the notice.
“I appeal to everyone in the university to refrain from the practices which are creating problems for the university’s stakeholders.”
Poet Srijato Bandopadhyay, a former student of Jadavpur Vidyapith, a school that adjoins JU, and a resident of Selimpur, which is close to the JU campus, had posted a message on his Facebook page in April saying a deafening sound was emanating from loudspeakers used at a fest at the university.
The poet’s post coincided with Sanskriti, a fest that was organised by the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Students’ Union (Fetsu) and continued from April 1 to 10.
The Science Faculty Students’ Union (SFSU) had organised its Sanskriti from March 29 to April 1.
Fetsu chairperson Aritra Majumdar said: “We would want the authorities to hold a meeting with all stakeholders, including students, before taking any decision on this issue.”
The Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association had written to the authorities in April saying the noise from loudspeakers at the open-air theatre during the Sanskriti that was organised by Fetsu was disrupting academic activities.
The Forum for Students with Disability has also complained against the use of loudspeakers.
Suraj Jha, a student with visual impairment, said: “As we use a stick to walk, we rely on the sound that is generated when the stick touches the surface. We can’t hear that sound when loudspeakers are on at full blast.”
Srijato told The Telegraph in a text message: “I am feeling reassured because the JU authorities have initiated steps to restrict the sound. This will help residents who live in and around the campus.”
Registrar Snehamanju Basu said: “Let’s see whether the appeal is having the desired impact. If not, we will decide on our course of action”.
In the same notice, the registrar has written that stalls being set up during fests are posing problems to differently abled students.
“As Jadavpur University is committed to extending a barrier-free movement to all members of the university community, such hindrance is not at all desirable. The encroachment also leads to many untoward incidents,” the notice says.
On April 11, JU had issued a notice to demarcate pedestrian pathways after students with visual impairment said recklessly driven vehicles were posing a risk to their safety.
