Noise Pollution Complaint Ignored? RTI to Police / SPCB

Part of Pillar 2 — RTI for Community & Society. See also environment RTI.

• Loudspeakers beyond permissible decibel / timing limits.
• Construction noise at night (Rule 4(3) prohibits 10 PM–6 AM noise).
• DJ / wedding noise.
• Religious / political public-address systems without permission.
• Industrial noise exceeding zone limits (industrial / commercial / residential / silence).
• Vehicle honking near hospitals / schools (silence zones).

• Police complaint at 112 / local station ignored.
• SPCB grievance older than 30 days.
• Decibel measurement promised but never shared.
• Chronic offender — need past-action record.

• Decibel reading log at the complaint site.
• Permission / loudspeaker-licence records for the offender.
• Complaint-register entry and action-taken report.
• Zoning classification of the area.
• SPCB inspection report.
• Penalty notices / show-cause issued.
• Duty-roster of the PCR van / beat constable.

• State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) — primary technical custodian for decibel readings.
• Police (Commissionerate / SP office) — complaint register and enforcement.
• Municipal Corporation — loudspeaker licence (in many states).
• District Magistrate — for public-event permissions.
• Rs. 10 fee; BPL free.

To,
The Public Information Officer,
[State Pollution Control Board / Office of the Commissioner of Police / Municipal Corporation],
[Address]

Subject: Information under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005, regarding noise-pollution complaint.

Sir/Madam,

I, [Name], resident of [Full Address, Ward / Zone], submit:

Date(s) of noise incident: ________
Source (loudspeaker / industrial / DJ / construction / vehicle / other): ________
Police / SPCB complaint reference: ________
Zone classification (residential / commercial / industrial / silence): ________

Please provide:

1. Certified copy of the Daily Diary / complaint-register entry at [Police Station / SPCB Office] for my complaint.
2. Decibel measurements taken at or near the complaint site during the relevant period, with instrument used and calibration record.
3. Loudspeaker / public-address licence or permission issued to the offender, with the permitted timings.
4. Action-taken report — show-cause issued, seizure, penalty.
5. Zoning classification of my area as per the SPCB zoning map.
6. Inspection-report / technical-visit of SPCB officials at the source.
7. Officer-in-charge of noise-pollution enforcement in my area.
8. History of action taken against the same offender in the last 12 months, if identifiable.
9. Escalation procedure if no action has been taken.
10. First Appellate Authority contact.

I enclose Indian Postal Order No. __________ for Rs. 10.
I declare I am an Indian citizen.

Yours faithfully,
[Signature, Date, Place]

1. Complaint-register entry.
2. Decibel readings.
3. Licence / permission record.
4. Action-taken report.
5. Zoning classification.
6. SPCB inspection report.
7. Enforcement officer name.
8. Offender's past record.
9. Escalation procedure.
10. FAA contact.

• Day 0–10 RTI routed.
• Day 10–25 SPCB / police pulls logs; many chronic offenders are notified.
• Day 30 Reply mandatory.
• Day 30+ First Appeal + National Green Tribunal (NGT) or High Court writ.

• Expecting police alone to act — most decibel enforcement is by SPCB; combine both.
• Not citing Noise Rules, 2000 — the specific framework.
• Missing the zone-classification ask; it sets the permissible limit.
• Failing to note the time of the incident (silence zone hours vary).

• Church of God (Full Gospel) in India v. KKR Majestic Colony Welfare Assn. (2000) 7 SCC 282 — no religious practice exempt from noise limits.
• In re: Noise Pollution (2005) 5 SCC 733 — nationwide enforcement direction, silence zones defined.
• Forum, Prevention of Envn. & Sound Pollution v. Union of India (2005) — 10 PM ban on fireworks.

• Independent decibel-meter app reading at the incident time strengthens the case.
• Video capturing time + source is strong evidence.
• Parallel NGT application — noise falls under NGT jurisdiction.
• Group filing by RWA / resident association signals community concern.

Q1. What are the permissible decibel limits?
Residential: 55 dB day / 45 dB night. Commercial: 65 / 55. Industrial: 75 / 70. Silence zones: 50 / 40.

Q2. Is there a universal night cut-off?
10 PM to 6 AM is the default prohibited window for amplified noise; state rules may vary.

Q3. Can the police ignore a cognizable noise offence?
No — Section 290 IPC (now BNS) covers public nuisance; Noise Rules permit seizure.

Q4. Does RTI force enforcement?
RTI surfaces the record; the enforcement agency must still act. But the record anchors NGT / HC petitions.

Noise complaints often die in silence. RTI turns them into a paper trail — and a paper trail is what the NGT, High Court, and senior officers respond to.

• Environment & pollution RTI
• RTI for water supply quality
• Pillar 2 — Community
• File RTI online

• Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
• Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000
• In re: Noise Pollution (2005) 5 SCC 733

Last reviewed: 21 April 2026.