The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered authorities to step up enforcement against noise pollution after a Division Bench noted widespread violations of prescribed sound limits and referred to the death of a seven-year-old child allegedly linked to excessive loudspeaker noise.
Justices Subodh Abhyankar and Jai Kumar Pillai, while hearing a public interest litigation concerning noise pollution in Indore, said they had personally encountered loudspeakers being used at excessive volumes while travelling home from court.
The Bench also took note of a newspaper report about the death of a seven-year-old school student following exposure to high-intensity sound from loudspeakers used during a procession.
The judges observed that the situation on the ground appeared markedly different from the picture presented in the government’s response to the Court.
The State had submitted that various measures were already being implemented to control noise pollution. The Court had initially considered closing the proceedings in light of those assurances.
However, the Bench said its own experience, along with the reported incident involving the child, raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of the existing enforcement mechanism.
The Court observed that excessive noise could apparently be heard in several places despite the presence of officials responsible for controlling such violations.
The proceedings originated from a PIL filed in 2023 concerning the alleged unchecked use of loudspeakers, DJs and high-volume sound systems during religious programmes, processions, weddings and other public gatherings in Indore.
The petition raised concerns that persistent and excessive noise could affect the right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, including the right to peaceful sleep.
Rather than close the case, the High Court decided to continue monitoring compliance.
It directed the State and enforcement agencies to strictly implement the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, as well as the Madhya Pradesh Kolahal Niyantran Adhiniyam, 1985.
Authorities were also instructed to take legal action against those found violating the prescribed noise limits.
In another significant direction, the Court ordered the authorities to publish details of officially designated silence zones in widely circulated newspapers. Members of the public are also to be given an opportunity to suggest additional locations that could be classified as silence zones.
The administration has further been directed to widely publicise telephone numbers and dedicated helplines through which residents can report violations and seek action against excessive noise.
The State must file a fresh compliance report before the Court within one week.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on October 5, 2026.