Veteran lawyer Gitanath Ganguli, known for his tireless efforts in countering noise pollution, passed away on Tuesday. He was 83.

Enrolled in the legal profession in 1962, Ganguli was appointed special officer by Calcutta High Court in the late 1990s to ensure sound norms framed by the court were maintained across Bengal.

Because of his hard work, many became aware of the norms and the decibel demon was reined in, especially during school board exams. “Gitanath Ganguli played a key role in fighting the noise menace in Bengal,” environment activist Subhas Dutta said. “His death will hamper our movement against noise.”

Ganguli had played a key role in rescuing non-criminal lunatics and fought for improving the lives of inmates in jails. Sports lover Ganguli was the president of Mohun Bagan Athletic Club. He was vice-chairman of the Legal Aid Society, Bengal, and vice-president of NGO, Sabuj Mancha.

Ganguli is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.

He was perhaps the most visible face of the high court-appointed panel. “I have seen Gitanathda visiting almost the entire city late at night to monitor noise pollution during Kali Puja and Diwali,” an environment activist who had accompanied Ganguli on many such visits said.

“His reports led to several strictures.”

Naba Dutta of Sabuj Mancha said fighting noise pollution had turned into a single-point agenda of his life. “Till his last day he was actively involved in the fight.”