Retired IAS officer issues legal notice to Karnataka police over late-night firecracker bursts

He alleges failure to enforce the Supreme Court’s ban on bursting sound-emitting firecrackers between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m; says he has respiratory ailments

Updated - October 30, 2026 06:56 pm IST - Bengaluru

The notice states that the disturbance has continued for several months, with firecrackers being burst after 10 p.m., mostly continuing past midnight and, at times, until the early hours of the morning. | Photo Credit: File photo

With the late-night bursting of firecrackers continuing despite repeated complaints, 85-year-old retired IAS officer M.G. Devasahayam has served a legal notice on the State Director-General and Inspector-General of Police, the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner and police officials at Banaswadi police station, alleging failure to enforce the Supreme Court’s ban on bursting sound-emitting firecrackers between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Mr. Devasahayam, who lives in Lingarajapuram, said he suffers from respiratory ailments and has accused the police of failing to take action despite being repeatedly alerted to the bursting of loud firecrackers almost every night.

In the legal notice dated October 30, he has given the officials three days to ensure enforcement of noise pollution regulations.

The notice states that the disturbance has continued for several months, with firecrackers being burst after 10 p.m., mostly continuing past midnight and, at times, until the early hours of the morning. It says repeated exposure to high-intensity noise, smoke and fumes from the crackers has affected Mr. Devasahayam’s health, causing severe headaches, hypertension and anxiety, besides depriving him of sleep. The notice also points to the impact on other residents, particularly senior citizens, infants and those with health conditions.

According to the notice, Mr. Devasahayam first emailed the City Police Commissioner on August 12, bringing the disturbance to his attention and seeking urgent intervention. The complaint was also marked to the Chief Secretary, who forwarded it to the Police Commissioner and the Member Secretary of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board on the same day. The Chief Secretary forwarded it again on September 1. However, despite further reminders on August 16 and 27, the nuisance continued without any effective intervention.

He then sent several messages to the Police Commissioner and the Banaswadi Station House Officer. The notice states that the Station House Officer telephoned Mr. Devasahayam following one of the complaints and later visited his residence with two Assistant Sub-Inspectors. The officers promised him that those responsible would be identified and stringent action taken, and that the Supreme Court’s directions would be enforced.

However, the noise continued despite the assurance. Mr. Devasahayam continued to complain to the police and also sent representations to the Director-General and Inspector-General of Police. On another night, loud drum-beating continued until midnight. As recently as October 24-25, loud blasts continued until 5 a.m., the notice said.

The notice cites the Supreme Court’s July 18, 2005, judgment in In Re: Noise Pollution (V), which bans sound-emitting firecrackers between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. It also prohibits the use of drums, trumpets and other sound-producing instruments and amplifiers during these hours, except in public emergencies. The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, and a Karnataka Government circular dated May 10, 2022, also direct the authorities, including the police, to enforce the restrictions.

The notice says the Police Commissioner is responsible for enforcing noise standards and alleges that the police have failed in their duty despite repeated complaints.

The retired IAS officer has asked the police to step up night patrolling, identify those bursting firecrackers after 10 p.m. and take action against them, including filing FIRs where necessary. He has also sought directions to police officers to enforce the ban, ensure that complaints are acted upon. He has also demanded an inquiry into why the police did not act on his complaints and a report on the action taken.

This is the second instance of citizens approaching the authorities over firecracker-related noise pollution. Recently, a group of citizens had served legal notices on several senior State government officials and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board over the repeated bursting of firecrackers during the Ganesha festival, saying it had caused considerable distress.