The Punjab Sound Systems (Regulation) Rules, 2015

Updated: Monday April 06, 2015/AlEthnien Jamada El Thaniah 17, 1436/Somavara Chaitra 16, 1937, at 03:46:44 PM

The Punjab Sound Systems (Regulation) Rules, 2015

24 February, 2015

No. SO(J-IV)4-19/2014. In exercise of the powers conferred under section 11 of the Punjab Sound Systems (Regulation) Ordinance, 2015 (V of 2015), Governor of the Punjab is pleased to make the following rules:---

1. Short title and commencement.-These rules may be cited as the Punjab Sound Systems (Regulation) Rules, 2015.

(2) They shall come into force at once.

2. Definitions.-In these rules:---

(a) “DCO” means District Coordination Officer of the District;

(b) “head of district police” means the Capital City Police Officer, City Police Officer or District Police Officer;

(c) “management” means the owner, manager, imam, mosque committee or any other such person or body responsible for the operations of a place where sound system is installed.

(d) “specifications” means specifications of sound system notified under subsection (3) of section 3 of the Ordinance.

(2) A word or expression used in the rules but not defined shall have the same meaning as is assigned to it in the Ordinance.

3. Condition for use of external sound system.- An external sound system may be sued at a public place with the prior written permission of the DCO, subject to following conditions:---

(a) the use shall be limited to the reasonable hours specified in the permission and to the condition that the calm, ease, peace and tranquility of the public at-large is not disturbed;

(b) the number of sound system allowed in the permission shall not be violated;

(d) any other condition, which the DCO considers appropriate to impose.

4. Inspection of places.- The officer Incharge of the police station shall conduct or cause to be conducted inspection of all places where sound systems are installed, including places of worship, to ensure that their sound systems comply with the provisions of the Ordinance, including the number and specifications.

5. Instruction for removal of sound system.- Where any sound system exceeds the specifications, written instructions shall be issued to the management to remove the sound system or parts or it, which are in excess to the specifications.

6. Fail or refuse to comply with the instruction.- (l) Where the management fails or refuses to comply with the instructions as mentioned in rule 5 of the rules, the officer incharge of the police station shall remove or cause to be removed, with the use of reasonable force, if required, the sound system in excess of the specifications.

(2) The first information report shall be registered against the management mentioned in sub-rule (1) of this rule, under section 6 of the Ordinance.

7. Regular inspection of the places—(1) The officer incharge of the police station shall inspect or cause to be inspected all places where sound systems are installed, including places of worship, within his jurisdiction, on monthly basis to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Ordinance and the rule.

(2) The inspection under sub-rule (1) may be carried out as and when required in case of a complaint received from a member of general public or information received from any other source.

8. Record of the inspection—The record of all inspections shall be made in daily diary and shall specify, among other things, the following:---

(a) specifications of the sound system installed;

(b) number and size of horns, loudspeakers or sound amplifies installed at the premises;

(d) circumstantial evidence to verify that the speaker is not being misused or used for the voicing of any sectarian or other utterances of controversial nature likely to lead to public disorder.

9. Power of seizure.—(1) A police officer not below the rank of an Assistant Sub-Inspector, subject to the permission of the officer of the officer incharge of the police station, and after making note to this effect in the daily diary, may seize any sound system used or reasonably suspected to have been sued in the commission of an offence under the Ordinance.

(2) Any sound system so seized shall, as soon as may be, be produced before the court having jurisdiction to try an offence under the Ordinance.

10. Meetings with management.—(1) The head of the district police shall conduct regular meetings with the management of all places where sound systems are installed, including places of worship, brief them as to the requirements of the Ordinance, and the implications in case of non-compliance.

(2) The head of the district police shall make it clear to the managements that they shall be responsible to ensure that their respective sound system:---

(i) complies with the specifications; and

(ii) is not being misused by any person or for any purpose.

11. Applicability.—The provisions of the Police Rules, 1934 and the Code shall be applicable in registering first information report, conducting investigation, arresting the accused, writing of case diary and submission of challan in the competent court.

12. Authority to compound the offence.—The DCO is authorized to compound an offence under subsection (1) of section 9 of the Ordinance subject to the conditions contained in that section.

The Punjab Sound Systems (Regulation) Ordinance, 2015