18 Jul. 24: In a significant ruling, the Indore Bench of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh has upheld the right to call the Azan from mosques using loudspeakers, provided it adheres to the volume guidelines. The decision came on July 11, 2024, in response to a writ petition (No. 15805 of 2024) filed by Allanoor Abbasi against the Home Department of Madhya Pradesh and others.
Justice Pranay Verma presided over the case, where the petitioner, represented by Advocate Imtiyaz Ahmad Behna, argued for the right to perform the prayer call as per the Supreme Court’s guidelines. The petitioner contended that the authorities lacked the authority to completely prohibit the call through loudspeakers and emphasized their commitment to following the guidelines established by the Supreme Court in the case of Church of God (Full Gospel) in India vs. K.K.R. Majestic Colony Welfare Association and Others (2000).
The court ruled in favor of the petitioner, affirming that the Azan, typically lasting two minutes, does not constitute pollution and therefore should not be entirely banned. The court’s decision highlights the importance of balancing religious practices with regulatory guidelines.
This ruling has been hailed as a victory for the Muslim community, affirming their right to perform the Azan within the framework of existing noise pollution guidelines.
