On September 22, a 7‑year‑old student named Vaishnavi Tiwari died at Divine Public School on City Palace Road in Bhagautiganj, Balrampur, when a procession carrying loudspeakers and a music system passed nearby during the 10‑day Ganpati Utsav that began on September 14. The tragedy prompted the Allahabad High Court to examine the broader issue of noise pollution.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla announced on September 28 that it would register a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) while hearing an existing case about the use of pressure horns, modified silencers and hooters. The bench clarified that it had not yet linked the loud noise to the child’s death.
The PIL will investigate the authorities responsible for controlling noise, assess current enforcement measures, and determine whether regular monitoring is necessary. The court highlighted that violations of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, are common in public spaces despite the legal framework, and that lack of public awareness can contribute to these infractions. It also stressed that continued violations should attract accountability under applicable law.
The Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police, the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, the Central Pollution Control Board, Lucknow civic authorities, and officials from key government departments were named as parties. The Balrampur District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, and Chief Medical Officer were directed to be impleaded, and the state was asked to submit reports on the incident and measures taken or proposed to enforce noise‑control laws. The court hoped that the child’s parents and school officials would not face unnecessary pressure and scheduled the next hearing for October 12.
