The High Court of Madhya Pradesh has issued a comprehensive set of directives to the Indore police and local administration, mandating the appointment of two volunteers from each ward to act as frontline reporters for noise pollution violations. The division bench, comprising Justice Subodh Abhyankar and Justice Jai Kumar Pillai, observed that existing enforcement mechanisms had proven entirely inadequate during the recent festive season, leaving the city’s residents to endure excessive noise levels that frequently breached permissible decibel limits.

In its recent order, the Court emphasized that silence zones, which were previously identified, must be formally published in newspapers of wide circulation. The Court expressed dissatisfaction with the administration’s initial efforts, noting that showing newspaper excerpts of these zones did not constitute proper compliance. Consequently, the State has been ordered to invite public suggestions to declare additional prominent locations as silence zones to ensure a more robust regulatory framework.

The judicial intervention comes amid growing concerns regarding the impact of sustained, excessive noise on the fundamental right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution, which includes the right to peaceful sleep. The Court highlighted that the elderly, children, and those suffering from chronic illnesses are disproportionately affected by the unchecked use of loudspeakers, which often operate from early morning until well past midnight.

Mobilizing Citizen Volunteers for Enforcement

A significant feature of the Court’s directive is the decentralization of noise monitoring. The Station House Officers (SHOs) of every police station in Indore are now required to appoint two dedicated volunteers from every ward. These individuals are empowered to report vehicles or persons causing noise pollution directly to the authorities and are encouraged to document such violations via mobile video footage. The Court noted that this strategy is designed to bridge the gap between citizens who wish to file complaints but remain hesitant to engage with the legal system directly. By acting as intermediaries, these volunteers are expected to facilitate more prompt and efficient police response.

The bench further addressed the lack of technical oversight by local law enforcement. During proceedings, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ashish Patel demonstrated a sound-measuring device, but the Court observed that such equipment had not been effectively utilized in public. To rectify this, the Court ordered that these noise-monitoring devices be distributed to police personnel actively engaged in field duty. Furthermore, the Court mandated that the contact numbers for each police station regarding noise pollution complaints must be publicized on the Indore Police website and in local newspapers to ensure that residents can reach the relevant officers without delay.

Curbing Municipal Noise Contributions

Beyond the private and commercial sectors, the Court turned its attention to the Indore Municipal Corporation’s own practices. Specifically, the bench noted that garbage collection vehicles, which traverse the city daily, have been utilizing loudspeakers to play "cleanliness songs" at volumes that exceed legal decibel limits. While the Court acknowledged the utility of alerting citizens to the arrival of these services, it maintained that such activity cannot occur at the expense of public tranquility. The Municipal Corporation has been strictly directed to reduce the sound output of these vehicles to permissible limits, or at the very least, cap the volume at 25% of its current level.

The Court reflected on the helplessness displayed by local authorities during the recent Navratri and Dussehra celebrations, remarking, "We are at pains to observe that during the last festive season of Navratri and Dussehra we have also witnessed and experienced unbridled noise pollution. Apparently, the police were totally helpless to curb and handle the noise pollution and the sources of such noise pollution."

The bench has ordered the respondents to produce detailed records of all complaints received by various police stations regarding noise, including any suo moto actions initiated by the police during periods of peak disturbance. This transparency measure is intended to provide the Court with a clearer picture of how existing regulations are being implemented on the ground.

Upcoming Compliance and Judicial Oversight

The Court has remained steadfast in its commitment to improving the quality of life for the city’s residents, noting that while the current situation is concerning, it remains hopeful that coordinated efforts between stakeholders will eventually yield the necessary relief. The respondents have been granted a period of three weeks to file a comprehensive compliance report detailing the actions taken pursuant to these directives. A copy of the order has been provided to the legal counsel for the Indore Municipal Corporation to ensure immediate adherence to the new mandates.

As the matter progresses, the Court’s focus remains on establishing a sustainable enforcement regime that balances public convenience with the preservation of public order and health. The next hearing for the petition is scheduled for the week commencing November 23, 2026. With these strict orders, the judicial bench aims to ensure that Indore becomes a more habitable city, where the enforcement of environmental norms is no longer an exception but a consistent standard of governance. The successful implementation of these measures will hinge on the responsiveness of the police force and the active participation of the newly appointed volunteers across the city’s various wards.