Beacon lights fade and barricades thin out as Jammu & Kashmir moves toward reclaiming its roads for the common commuter.
By Zulfiqar Alam
The silent creep of noise pollution has evolved into one of the most pervasive irritants of modern life, and in Jammu and Kashmir, this auditory assault has found a particularly aggressive voice through the unchecked use of hooters and multi-toned sirens. What was engineered as a vital tool for life-saving intervention has been distorted into a crude megaphone for social dominance. This constant blaring does far more than fracture the peace; it breeds a toxic atmosphere of impatience, anxiety, and aggression among drivers and pedestrians alike. It is a transformation of purpose where a safety device has been hijacked to become a symbol of power, haste, and a manufactured sense of urgency that serves the ego rather than the public good.
A hooter or siren is not an accessory of prestige but a functional necessity designed to warn road users of an approaching emergency. Its legitimate role is confined to the frantic race of an ambulance, the heavy urgency of a fire engine, or the critical response of a police vehicle on duty. In these contexts, the sound is a plea for cooperation to save lives and ensure clear passage. However, when these sounds pierce the air from unauthorized vehicles, the message changes from a request for help to a demand for submission. As you drive or sit in public transport, the sudden, shrill blast of an illegal siren forces you to the periphery. It is a loud, humiliating signal that you are expected to surrender the road, effectively treating the common citizen as a “child of a lesser God” in modern India. This behavior instills a profound sense of helplessness, turning shared public infrastructure into a stage for the performative display of privilege.
To understand the gravity of this violation, one must look at the legal framework governing our roads. Under Rule 119 of the Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, all motor vehicles must be fitted with a standard electric horn that provides a clear, audible warning without being abrasive. The law is explicit in its prohibition of multi-toned horns, sirens, or any device that produces harsh, shrill, or alarming noise on ordinary vehicles. The exceptions are narrow and specific, reserved for emergency services and authorized officials performing essential duties. Yet, the gap between the statute books and the asphalt of our streets remains cavernous.
The tide, however, may be turning as authorities and the judiciary begin to push back against this “siren culture.” On the eve of the New Year, the Senior Superintendent of Police for Traffic in Srinagar signaled a crackdown on those illegally using hooters or installing unauthorized flag rods. This executive stance mirrors a significant judicial intervention from July 2024, when the Court of District Mobile Magistrate in Sopore took suo motu cognizance of the rampant misuse of red beacons and sirens. Referencing the Supreme Court’s landmark directions in Abhay Singh vs. State of Uttar Pradesh, the court observed a disturbing trend where bureaucrats, politicians, and even political party workers were using these devices to bypass the law. Perhaps most alarming was the court’s observation that enforcement agencies often hesitated to act due to a fear of reprisal from those in positions of perceived power. The magistrate rightly termed this practice a “menace” that not only fuels noise pollution but actively promotes a VVIP culture that stands in direct opposition to the constitutional principle of equality.
This judicial scrutiny is part of a broader national fatigue with road-based elitism. A public interest litigation in the Madhya Pradesh High Court recently highlighted the proliferation of private vehicles adorned with unauthorized hooters, VIP stickers, and distorted number plates. The court’s interim order for immediate action underscores a growing consensus: the law must protect the ordinary citizen’s right to a peaceful public space. These rulings emphasize that hooters and sirens are tools for constitutional functions, not ornaments of status.
The Constitution of India was drafted to dismantle the “Raj mentality” that treated the common man as an inferior subject. It places equality before the law at the very core of the Republic, rejecting arbitrary privileges that create a divide between the elite and the populace. Every time an unauthorized hooter blares in traffic, it is a sonic violation of that constitutional promise. For a region like Jammu and Kashmir, which deeply values its tranquility, reducing this unnecessary noise is more than a legal compliance issue; it is a social and psychological necessity. Respecting traffic laws is the first step toward restoring a sense of civic decency and patience on our roads. The warning issued by the SSP Traffic in Srinagar, if sustained by consistent and fearless enforcement, offers a chance to dismantle this false sense of entitlement. The troubling question that lingers is why, despite such clear legal and constitutional mandates, an effective check on this illegality remains so elusive. It is time for the blare of privilege to be replaced by the quiet dignity of the law.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of this Magazine. The author can be reached at [email protected]
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