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The Allahabad High Court on Monday registered a fresh suo motu Public Interest Litigation on noise pollution after taking note of an incident involving the death of a Class-II schoolgirl in Balrampur, who allegedly collapsed in her classroom while a procession with loudspeakers and a music system was passing nearby.

A Bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla, while hearing a pending PIL on the misuse of pressure horns, modified silencers and hooters, directed the Registry to register a separate suo motu PIL on the incident and the broader issues of noise pollution and its impact on citizens.

Importantly, the Court made it clear that it had not drawn any conclusion regarding the cause of the child's death.

The Court noted that the incident allegedly took place on September 22, 2026, at Divine Public School, City Palace Road, Bhagautiganj, Balrampur.

The girl was studying in Class II and allegedly collapsed in her classroom while a procession was passing nearby with loudspeakers and a music system. The media had widely reported the incident.

The Bench said that although it was conscious of an earlier order in the pending PIL, the Balrampur incident and the larger questions arising from noise pollution warranted separate proceedings.

The Court accordingly directed the Registry to register a fresh suo motu PIL concerning "Noise Pollution and compliance of statutory provisions in this regard by the concerned authorities".

The Court also noted that loudspeakers or music instruments were allegedly being played at a very high pitch and that the child collapsed in the classroom immediately thereafter.

The Bench said this persuaded it to take cognizance of the matter as "noise pollution is now becoming a menace".

The High Court observed that the Legislature had already noticed and acknowledged noise pollution through the Environment Protection Act, 1986, and the rule-making authority through the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.

Despite this statutory framework, the Court observed that the problem appeared to continue unabated.

"Everyday we find violation of the aforesaid Rules, 2000 on the streets. It is common knowledge", the Bench observed.

The Court said the issue would include examining who was responsible for curbing the menace and what steps were being taken in this regard.

It further observed that if the steps already taken were insufficient, the Court would have to put in place a mechanism for regular monitoring of compliance with the statutory provisions.

The Court said effective implementation would also require spreading awareness among citizens, noting that lack of awareness was a main reason for violations.

It said determining how to create such awareness was a matter for the Government, and the Court would require assistance from the authorities arrayed in the suo motu proceedings.

The Bench further observed that if people continued to violate the statutory provisions despite measures being taken, they would have to be made accountable.

It noted that the Noise Pollution Rules, 2000 provide for penalties which could be imposed under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.

The Court directed that several senior government officials and authorities be arrayed as opposite parties, including the Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary of the Home, Transport, Forest and Environment, Housing and Urban Planning and Urban Development Departments.

The Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh; Commissioner of Police, Lucknow; District Magistrate, Lucknow; Lucknow Municipal Corporation; Lucknow Development Authority; Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board; and Central Pollution Control Board were also directed to be impleaded.

The Divine Public School, through its Head Master, and the District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police and Chief Medical Officer, Balrampur, were also directed to be arrayed in relation to the incident.

The Bench directed the Additional Chief Standing Counsel for the State to obtain instructions and a report from the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, Balrampur.

The Bench further hoped and trusted that the parents of the child and the school authorities would not be pressured, and that no person or authority of the State would unnecessarily interfere with the school's functioning.

Senior Advocate Gaurav Mehrotra, assisting the Court as amicus curiae, was also requested to assist in the suo motu proceedings.

The authorities have been permitted to file affidavits on the incident and the measures taken or proposed to effectively implement the Environment Protection Act and the Noise Pollution Rules, along with suggestions for effective implementation.

The court will hear the suo motu PIL on October 12, 2026.

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