Noise annoys: On noise and the Patna High Court order
The Patna High Court has taken a proactive stance against noise pollution by ordering stricter enforcement against DJs and loudspeaker operators. The court criticized local authorities for poor implementation of existing laws and mandated new registration and timing regulations.
Why it matters
This intervention demonstrates the judiciary's role in addressing public health and environmental concerns when administrative enforcement fails.
In a February 2025 hearing in the matter of Surendra Prasad vs State of Bihar , the Patna High Court acknowledged DJ trolleys and loudspeakers to be a major source of noise in Patna. After criticising the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) for failing to curb the menace, Justice Rajiv Roy directed the BSPCB to obtain reports from the police about permissions granted to operators of these noise sources and the action taken. In October, the police said they had seized equipment, levied fines, and so on over three months in Patna, Barh, and Fatuha but had taken no action in Masaurhi, a picture Justice Roy called “unbelievable” for suggesting that there were no noise violations there. In the course of these hearings, Justice Roy also summoned police officers and upbraided boilerplate affidavits, among others.
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