‘If it causes trouble…’, Allahabad High Court rejects demand to install loudspeaker on mosque – Loudspeaker On Mosque Allahabad HC Dismisses Plea Seeking Direction For Loudspeaker NTC

Allahabad High Court rejected a writ petition, in which permission was sought from the state authorities to install loudspeakers on the mosque. The court said that the real purpose of religious places is to pray, and the use of loudspeakers cannot be a matter of right.

This petition was filed by Mukhtiyar Ahmed, a resident of Pilibhit, which was rejected by a two-member bench of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Donadi Ramesh. The bench said, “Religious places are for prayers and use of loudspeakers cannot be claimed as a right, especially when its use often causes inconvenience to people.”

Also read: 4 people arrested for offering Namaz in Bareilly, FIR against others, mosque was built by putting a tin shed

Why did the High Court reject the petition?

The counsel for the state (UP government) objected to the admissibility of the petition saying that the petitioner is neither a mutawalli (custodian of the property or institution) nor does the mosque belong to him. The court found that the petitioner did not have the ‘locus’ to file this writ petition. ‘Locus’ is a legal term that refers to the right of a person or organization to participate in a legal proceeding or file a lawsuit.

Also read: Ahmadi mosque demolished in Pakistan, why Muslims do not consider Ahmadis as a part of their religion

Loudspeakers were removed from mosques

According to the report of India Today, in the end of December 2024, the UP Police team had removed loudspeakers from many mosques in Firozabad district of Uttar Pradesh. Firozabad SP Ravi Shankar Prasad had then said that action was taken after receiving several complaints regarding loud loudspeakers playing from mosques. Following complaints, the police had reduced the volume of loudspeakers at some places, while loudspeakers were removed from several mosques after they were found allegedly violating rules.

Gujarat High Court’s stand on loudspeaker

According to a report in India Today, the Gujarat High Court had said in November 2023 that using loudspeakers for Azaan in mosques does not cause noise pollution. Also, a public interest litigation (PIL) demanding a ban on its use was rejected.

Then a bench of Gujarat High Court comprising Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha P Mai had termed the petition as “completely false”, saying, “We fail to understand that the human voice giving Azaan through loudspeaker in the morning creates noise pollution.” “How can it reach such levels that it could pose a health risk to the general public?”