HC directs State to act on noise pollution law amendments

 

 

 

The High Court of Chhattisgarh has pressed the State Government to expedite amendments to the Kolahal Niyantran Adhiniyam, 1985 in line with the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, while hearing a suo motu public interest litigation based on media reports on rising noise pollution. The division bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru took note of the affidavit filed by the Chief Secretary on September 18, 2025, detailing the State’s progress on noise control legislation.

 

The affidavit recorded that a five-member committee was constituted on January 27, 2025, with representatives from Home, Law, and Urban Administration departments and chaired by the Housing and Environment Secretary. The Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB) was tasked as member secretary. According to the affidavit, the committee directed CECB to prepare draft amendments to the Kolahal Adhiniyam, which were submitted on August 13, 2025. The draft was reviewed on August 14, 2025, with departments asked to secure approvals from their respective Secretaries. The Home Department, designated as the administrative authority, informed the committee on September 15, 2025, that the proposals were still under scrutiny and required additional time.

 

The affidavit assured that the matter was under “active consideration” and would be pursued expeditiously. During the hearing, counsel for intervenors stressed the need for real-time enforcement, citing installation of 783 CCTV cameras in Raipur during festive seasons. They urged the court to direct preservation of such footage to detect violations of noise norms.State counsel agreed that preservation should be ensured on specific dates, especially during idol immersion processions, to assist enforcement. The bench, noting the submissions, directed the Chief Secretary to ensure strict compliance with noise regulations and take necessary steps to align the state law with the central rules. The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 16, 2025.