TS HC lifts ban on music after 10 pm

The Division Bench of the Telangana High Court lifted the restriction on playing music after 10 p.m. on Monday, bringing relief to the owners of pubs and similar amusement establishments in Hyderabad, with the exception of pubs in the residential area of Jubilee Hills.

Previously, on September 12, 2022, the Single Judge issued orders declaring that playing music after 10 p.m. in pubs is a violation of the Noise (Pollution) Regulation Act and ordering the police to take strict action against those establishments and pubs that violated the said Rules.

Dissatisfied with the orders, the pub owner filed appeals with the Division Bench.

While hearing those appeals, the Bench of Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice CV Bhaskar Reddy observed that the single judge orders went beyond the request before it and that extending the orders to all pubs is not valid.

The request before the single judge was that the establishments of pubs, bars, and restaurants in Jubilee Hills, namely 800 Jubilee, Farzi café, Amnesia Lounge Bar, Hylife Brewing Company, Daily Dose Bar Hop, Dirty Martini Kitchen and Bar, Broadway the Brewery, Heart Coffee, and a few others located on Road 36,79, and other residential areas, were causing noise pollution by playing loud music at midnights until 2 AM by playing music and the

The Division Bench observed on Monday that a single judge would have limited the restrictions on music playing to only the pubs and establishments mentioned by Jubilee Hills residents.

The Bench stated that by converting the appeals to Public Interest Litigations, it will hear them along with the petitions before a single judge.

The matter is adjourned to 17 November for further hearing.