Madhya Pradesh HC judges cite own ordeal and child’s death from loudspeaker noise to order crackdown on noise pollution

The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently took a serious view of a news report that a seven-year-old schoolchild had died due to the extreme noise pollution from a passing procession's loudspeakers [Amitabh Upadhyay and Others vs. The State of Madhya Pradesh and Others].

A Division Bench of Justices Subodh Abhyankar and Jai Kumar Pillai further revealed that they themselves witnessed rampant violations of noise pollution norms while they were commuting home from work.

"So many loud noises were coming from almost all directions, and while commuting from the Court to our houses also, we found that in many places the loudspeakers were blasting away all the limits of sound barriers. Apart from that, in yesterday's morning newspaper, we found that a child aged 7 years has died in the school on account of high pitch volume coming from the speakers of a procession which was passing by," the Bench observed.

By an order passed on September 24, the Court proceeded to direct the State government to strictly enforce noise control laws and publicise dedicated complaint helplines.

The Court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed in 2023 that raised concerns about unchecked noise pollution in Indore from loudspeakers, DJs, religious programmes, processions, marriages and other public events.

The petitioners contended that such excessive noise infringed the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, including the right to peaceful sleep.

In the latest hearing of the matter, the Court observed that the State authorities had filed a detailed reply claiming that measures were in place to curb noise pollution. In view of this, the Court was initially inclined to close the case.

However, it eventually found that the ground reality painted a completely different picture.

"It is apparent that the said noises polluting the atmosphere could not be heard by the concerned officers of the administration, who are responsible for curbing the same. Thus, although the respondents have filed a detailed reply trying to convince this Court that all the measures are being taken to curb the noise pollution but the ground reality appears rather grim," the Court remarked.

The Court, therefore, decided to monitor the issue further.

Consequently, the Bench issued strict directions to police and administrative authorities to ensure compliance with the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) (Amendment) Rules, 2000, and the Madhya Pradesh Kolahal Niyantran Adhiniyam, 1985.

It further ordered that strict legal action be taken against violators.

The Court also directed authorities to publish the list of designated silence zones in widely circulated daily newspapers and invite representations from the public to declare other prominent places as silence zones.

Additionally, the Court directed that contact and helpline numbers be publicised so citizens can lodge noise pollution complaints.

The Court further ordered the State to submit a fresh compliance report within a week. The matter is listed for further consideration by the Court on October 5, 2026.

Advocate Abhinav Dhanodkar represented the petitioners. 

Government Advocate Pradhymna Kibe and advocate Rishabh Singh Chouhan were among the counsel representing various respondents.

[Read Order]