National Green Tribunal Dismisses Plea To Prohibit Railway From Using Horns

The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal has dismissed the application filed to prohibit railways from using horns in trains. The application claimed that it is in violation of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.

The bench of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel (Chairperson), Justice Sudhir Agarwal, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, Dr A.Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad ( Expert Members) said that, “While noise free environment is necessary, essential activities have to be conducted in absence of any other options.”

The petition was filed by residents of certain colonies of Ajmer raising concerns about noise pollution caused by the operation of Railways which is violative of Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.

The applicants claimed that as a result they are suffering.

The Tribunal after considering the matter said that it is a matter of common knowledge that Railway operations serve a large number of population and generation of noise in their operations cannot be wished away.

The NGT noted that horns are required to be blown as per applicable ‘whistle code.’

In light of the above the Tribunal concluded that, while a noise free environment is necessary, essential activities have to be conducted in absence of any other options.

Consequently the application was dismissed.

Case Title: Ashok Malik & Anr. v. Ministry of Railways

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