The Madhya Pradesh High Court has called on the Centre and the state’s pollution control board to address a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning noise pollution caused by festivals and weddings across the state. The division bench, comprising Justices Sanjeev Sachdeva and Vinay Saraf, issued notices on Wednesday, giving the authorities four weeks to respond.
The PIL, brought forth by a group of concerned citizens including Dr. Govind Prasad Mishra, a former vice chancellor of Jabalpur-based Nanaji Deshmukh University of Veterinary Sciences; RP Shrivastava, a retired chief conservator of forest; KP Reja, a former executive engineer in the irrigation department; and YN Gupta, a retired assistant geologist, calls for immediate measures to mitigate noise levels during public and private celebrations.
Aditya Sanghi, the counsel for the petitioners, emphasized the severe impact of high decibel levels on the health and well-being of residents, particularly the elderly. He highlighted the plight of Dr. Mishra, 82, and Shrivastava, 100, who are significantly affected by the noise but are unable to relocate due to their age and circumstances. “The decibel level is so high that even window glasses vibrate, and nobody can sleep peacefully, particularly during festivals and weddings,” Sanghi informed the court.
The petition points out that as per central regulations, the maximum permissible noise level is 75 decibels (dB) during the day, with lower limits of 45 dB in residential areas and 40 dB in designated silence zones at night. Yet, these standards are frequently exceeded during celebratory events, posing health risks. The Indian Medical Association has noted that prolonged exposure to noise above 80 dB can impair hearing.
