Authorities Must Strictly Enforce Noise Pollution Rules, Take Action Against Violators: Madhya Pradesh HC

Indore: The Madhya Pradesh High Court, Indore Bench, has directed the State and police authorities to strictly enforce noise pollution norms, taking note that a seven-year-old child died at school after being exposed to high-pitch volume from loudspeakers at a passing procession.

A Division Bench of Justice Subodh Abhyankar and Justice Jai Kumar Pillai, hearing WP No. 25397 of 2023, recorded that although it was “inclined to dispose of this petition,” it found on the very night before pronouncement that “loudspeakers were blasting away all the limits of sound barriers” in many places while the judges were commuting from the Court.

The Bench noted that a newspaper report the same morning had disclosed that a child aged seven “has died in the school on account of high pitch volume coming from the speakers of a procession which was passing by.”

Observing that the noise pollution “could not be heard by the concerned officers of the administration, who are responsible for curbing the same,” the Court held that despite a detailed reply by the respondents claiming that measures were being taken, “the ground reality appears rather grim.”

The Court accordingly reiterated its direction to the State and police officials to ensure compliance with the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) (Amendment) Rules, 2000, and the M.P. Kolahal Niyantran Adhiniyam, 1985, and to take “appropriate strict measures” against persons found violating the law.

The respondents were further directed to publish the list of silence zones filed along with their reply in daily newspapers of wide circulation, invite the public to seek declaration of other prominent places as silence zones not covered by the list, and publicise the complaint and phone numbers for reporting noise pollution.

The Court directed that a fresh compliance report be filed within a further period of one week, and listed the matter for further hearing on 5th October, 2026.

Appearances: Shri Abhinav Dhanodkar, learned counsel, appeared for the petitioners. Shri Pradhymna Kibe, Government Advocate, appeared for the respondents/State along with Shri Ashish Patel, ACP concerned. Shri Rishabh Singh Chouhan, learned counsel, appeared for respondent No. 4.

Case Title: Amitabh Upadhyay and Others vs. The State of Madhya Pradesh and Others