Andhra Pradesh cuts petrol, diesel prices by Rs 2
Amaravati, Sep 10 : In a move to provide some relief to people reeling under increasing fuel prices, the Andhra Pradesh government on Monday announced reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre in the state.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced in the state Assembly that this decision will come into effect from Tuesday.
Andhra Pradesh has the third highest percentage of VAT on petrol (35.77 per cent) after Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, and highest 28.08 per cent on diesel.
Naidu said owing to the reduction in VAT, the state would lose Rs 1,120 crore in revenues annually. He made the announcement on a day when the Congress and the Left parties called nation-wide shutdown to protest fuel price hike.
The activists of Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP) also took part in the protests against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government across Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring Telangana.
Naidu, whose party pulled out of NDA in March, accused the Centre of misleading the people by attributing the steep hike in the prices of petrol and diesel to growing crude oil prices globally.
The TDP chief pointed out that the crude oil price during 2013-14 was 105.52 dollars per barrel but even when the price fell to 46 dollars, the NDA government did not pass on the benefit to common man.
Naidu said the current price of crude oil is 72.23 dollars but the Narendra Modi government is increasing the prices every day, burdening the common man.
He demanded that the Centre, too, provide relief to people by cutting down taxes on fuel prices.
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Use of loudspeakers not essential part of any religion, says Bombay HC
orders action against violation
Mumbai (PTI): Use of loudspeakers is not an essential part of any religion, the Bombay High Court said on Thursday, directing the law enforcement agencies to take prompt action against loudspeakers that violate the noise pollution norms and rules.
A division bench of Justices A S Gadkari and S C Chandak said noise was a major health hazard and no one can claim that their rights are affected in any manner if he or she is denied permission to use loudspeakers.
The HC asked the state government to direct religious institutions to adopt mechanisms for controlling noise levels, including calibrated sound systems with auto-decibel limits.
The court passed its judgment on a petition filed by two housing associations from suburban Kurla - Jaago Nehru Nagar Residents Welfare Association and Shivsrushti Co-operative Housing Societies Association Ltd - alleging police inaction against noise pollution caused by loudspeakers installed on masjids in the area.
The petitioners contended that the use of loudspeakers for religious purposes, including the recitation of 'azaan' (Islamic call to prayer) disturbed the peace and violated the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, as well as provisions under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
The bench in its order said Mumbai was a cosmopolitan city and obviously there are persons of different religions in every part of the city.
"It is in public interest that such permissions should not be granted. By denying such permissions, rights under Article 19 or 25 of the Constitution of India are not at all infringed. Use of loudspeakers is not an essential part of any religion," the HC said.
The court said it was the "bounden duty" of the state government and other authorities to enforce the law by adopting all the necessary measures, as may be prescribed by the provisions of law.
"In a democratic State, there cannot be a situation that, a person/group of persons/association of persons would say that, it will not follow or adhere to the law of the land and the law enforcers would be meek or silent spectators to it," the judgment said.
It added that common citizens are "hapless and helpless victims of these obnoxious use of loudspeakers and/or amplifiers".
The court said the police must act on complaints against loudspeakers violating the noise pollution rules without requiring identification of the complainant to avoid such complainants being targets or ill will and developing hatred.
"We direct the State to consider to direct all the concerned to have in-built mechanism to control decibel level in their loudspeakers/voice amplifiers/public address system or other sound emitting gadgets used by any religious place/structure/institution, irrespective of religion," the bench ordered.
The State may also seriously consider to issue directions for calibration and/or auto-fixation of decibel limit of loudspeakers/voice amplifiers/public address system or other sound emitting gadgets used by any or all the religions in their respective places of prayers or worship, the HC said.
The court also directed the Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, to issue instructions to all police stations to take prompt action in case of any complaint against loudspeakers at religious places.
"We take a judicial note of the fact that, generally people/citizens do not complain about the things until it becomes intolerable and a nuisance," the bench said.
Reminding the authorities that ambient noise levels must not exceed 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night in residential areas, the court added that cumulative noise from all sources must adhere to these limits.
"The law does not permit that, every individual loudspeaker will emit 55 or 45 decibels of noise aggregating to more than what is prescribed under the said Rules. That would amount to frustrating the intention of the Legislature," the court said.
The court said the police may also withdraw permissions granted to the said trusts/institutions for the use of loudspeakers, if repeated violation of the provisions of the said Noise Pollution Rules are brought to their notice.
