Cuttack, May 23: Nine years after imposing a ban on road processions by band parties without sound limiters, Orissa High Court has sought from the state home department a status report on the implementation of the order.

The state's top court sought the report after the noise pollution issue returned to the court in the form of a fresh PIL alleging non-implementation of the order.

On April 4, 2008, the high court had banned road processions by band parties without sound limiters across the state while giving a free hand to the police administration for seizure and arrest of violators.

The court had fixed the permissive sound level limit at 65 decibels, both in residential and commercial areas and directed the home department to provide the sound limiters to all police stations to enable them to monitor noise pollution in their respective areas.

The court had further fixed a three-month deadline for the state home department to provide the sound limiters to police stations in the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar and allowed supply of the gadgets to other police stations across the state in subsequent phases.

High court lawyer Pravat Ranjan Dash filed a petition said: "In reality, nothing has been done till date."

Loud multi-sound systems along with amplifiers and DJs were still being used during festivals and wedding processions. The petition came up on Wednesday.

"Acting on it, the division bench of Chief Justice Vineet Saran and Justice K.R. Mohapatra posted the matter to after six weeks for hearing along with a reply from the home secretary."

"Accordingly, the judges issued notice to the home secretary to file an affidavit on the steps taken to implement the high court order," advocate-petitioner Dash said.

The court also issued notices to the state pollution control board.

The petition raised concerns about the unrestrained use of DJs and multi sound systems without sound limiters by band parties in processions despite a ban by the high court. The unrestricted noise made by band parties during wedding and other processions was inconveniencing the public, the petition alleged seeking fresh intervention.

The petition has sought the court's direction to declare silence zones within 100 metres of hospitals, educational institutions and courts. The petitioner expected a direction to the authorities to come up with signage in silence zone.

Sources said the police had in 2010 issued an order for "regulation of band and music parties in marriage processions etc." after the state home department had directed it to ensure that all band and music parties using amplifiers install pre-fixed sound limiters to restrict the sound within the permissible 65 decibel. The home department's directive was issued in pursuance of the high court order in 2008.