Allahabad High Court registers a fresh suo motu PIL on noise pollution after a schoolgirl's death in Balrampur

1 October 2026

The Allahabad High Court has registered a fresh suo motu Public Interest Litigation on noise pollution.
The order was passed by a Lucknow bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla, which was hearing an existing PIL on the misuse of pressure horns, modified silencers and hooters.
The court recorded that a Class 2 student of Divine Public School on City Palace Road in Bhagautiganj, Balrampur, collapsed in her classroom on 22 September when loudspeakers and a music system were being played at high volume during a nearby procession, and that she could not be saved after being taken for medical treatment.
The bench made it clear that it had not reached any conclusion on the cause of the child's death, but said the circumstances were sufficient for it to take cognisance of the matter.
It observed that noise pollution was becoming a menace despite its recognition under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 and the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.
The new proceedings will examine compliance with those statutory provisions and the measures needed to curb noise pollution, with senior advocate Gaurav Mehrotra continuing as amicus curiae.
The court directed the state counsel to obtain reports from the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police of Balrampur, and listed the matter for further hearing on 12 October.