Delhi High Court

 As per the legal news reported in one of the India’s leading newspapers, the Indian Express, on August 27, 2010, a new proposed Indian law will permit cycle rickshaws to run across Delhi. The Draft Delhi Cycle Rickshaw Act, 2010 is being drafted by Delhi’s three civic authorities.  

Did you know that telecommunication state laws include the right to telecast? Busy as our lives maybe, we come back to our homes and spend considerable time watching TV to relax and not miss our favorite programs. Did you know that Indian telecommunication laws give you the right to watch and entertain and educate yourself from these programs? In this discussion, let’s also talk about broadcasting services.

In yet another landmark ruling, the Delhi High Court asked the government to treat the women and men officers in the army and air force at par while granting them permanent commission. Women officers in the Indian army serve in non combat capacity in areas such as law, air traffic control, administration, engineering, intelligence and so on. The Delhi High Court turned down the plea for allowing women to participate in combat operations.

On 12th March 2010, a division bench comprising Justices Pradeep Nandrajog and Suresh Kait recommended to the Delhi Government to frame rules that allow the latter to decide either for remission of sentence or clemency can be granted to mothers who are convicted of killing their own children.

What is Noise Pollution?

Environmental noise pollution has a severe impact on peoples' health and overall well being. Typically, noise pollution refers to any sound that disrupts the environment such as:

• transportation sources comprising motor vehicles
• poor urban planning that paves the way for high noise areas in residential and industrial sectors
• recreational vehicles that make announcements using loudspeakers in rural areas

Environmental Noise Pollution and Health:

Environmental noise pollution affects the health of people and even animals. It is well established that the loss of hearing and the problem of insomnia in people can be attributed to extremely high levels of noise pollution. 

Other health effects include:

• Rise in blood pressure
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Measurable increase in stress
• Higher incidence of coronary heart disease
• Adverse psychological effects

Noise Pollution in Indian Airports

Sources of noise pollution may be in the environment but in places like airports, it is a known fact that noise pollution is bound to be higher than at any other places.

On March 3, 2010, the Delhi High Court directed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to implement immediate measures to check the growing level of noise pollution near the Delhi airport. On the last date of hearing, the Delhi High Court had barred Delhi International Airport Pvt Ltd (DIAL) from using two of the runways that are used at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport.

Noise Pollution Causes Insomnia in Patients, Disturbance to Doctors During Surgery

The Indian Spinal Injuries Centre had filed a petition, stating that the noise levels created by landing aircraft, when they fly at a low height of 200-300 feet, caused disturbance to the patients. As a result, many patients suffer from sleeplessness regularly. Further, the petition stated that their doctors, while performing surgery, have also complained about the enviromental noise pollution levels that disturbs them during the plane landings. The hospital also alleged that the noise created by these planes spanned 75 decibel to 94 decibel, which went beyond the stipulated standards laid down under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.

In an interview given to Times of India (reported on 12th February, 2010), Justice A.P.Shah, who had recently retired as chief justice of Delhi High Court, spoke openly about his feeling of being hurt. His name had been overlooked by the country's highest collegium which is headed by the Chief Justice of India.