Supreme Court To Hear Kannur Corporation's Challenge To Kerala High Court Order Silencing Its Siren

The Supreme Court yesterday issued notice in a plea filed by the Kannur Municipal Corporation challenging the Kerala High Court's order for the discontinuation of the Kannur Corporation's 60-year-old Siren installed during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war.

A bench comprising Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice PB Varale issued notice to the District Collector, Kannur and to the Kerala Pollution Control Board(KSPCB).

By the order dated February 25, the High Court ordered the stoppage of the siren in a public interest litigation preferred by a resident of Kannur. He had contended that the high-intensity hiren caused severe noise pollution because it is mechanically operated thrice a day at 6:00 a, 1:00 p.m., and 6:00 pm. The High Court held that the siren had outlived its purpose.

Challenging the High Court's order, Advocate Haris Beeran, for the Corporation, said that regulatory measures have been issued to control siren noise.

Justice Kumar responded that the siren is situated at the heart of the city and there are hospitals, schools and nursing clinics nearby. The judge said that a siren shouldn't be allowed to operate at 94.9 decibels and disturb the surroundings. Beeran responded that the sound level was brought within the permissible limits.

The counsel also submitted that the siren has become a part of the culture, tradition and sentiments of the people of Kannur. He added that the siren marks an indispensable custom during the flag-hoisting ceremony of the Talap Sree Sundareswara Temple festival.

He argued that without considering the aspects, the High Court passed a two-line order to stop the siren. The siren was sounded to inform the public of the passing hour of the day, during important national holidays.

The Corporation has also said that it has unequivocally decided to regulate the siren's sound to bring it within permissible statutory limits and has sought guidelines from the KSPCB.

Case Details: THE KANNUR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION vs. PRASANTHAN M|Diary No. - 18526/2026

Click Here To Read Order

Appearances: For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Haris Beeran, Adv. Mr. Azhar Assees, Adv. Mr. Anand B. Menon, Adv. Ms. Rizwana R. Raj, Adv. Mr. Shaswat Jena, Adv. Mr. Radha Shyam Jena, AOR