A case has been registered against a mosque cleric in Jahanabad for allegedly violating loudspeaker regulations. According to Station House Officer (SHO) Manoj Kumar Mishra, Sub-Inspector Varun filed an FIR, stating that a loudspeaker was used at an excessively high volume during the afternoon namaaz at the Kazitola mosque on March 1.
The cleric, Maulvi Ashfaq, had reportedly been informed on February 25 about the restrictions requiring prior permission for loudspeaker use. However, he allegedly used it again during the azaan on February 28 without authorization. Upon questioning, he failed to provide the necessary documentation.
As a result, a case has been filed against him under sections 223 (disobedience to public servant’s order), 270 (public nuisance), and 293 (continuing nuisance after injunction) of the BNS (British Noise Statutes). SHO Mishra stated that the loudspeaker use was particularly disruptive to ongoing Board examinations for classes 10 and 12, affecting students’ concentration and those with serious health conditions.
In a related incident, three individuals were also booked for installing loudspeakers at religious places without approval. In Tiyori village, two unauthorized loudspeakers were set up, further raising concerns about noise pollution.
The use of loudspeakers at religious sites has been a subject of legal scrutiny. The Allahabad High Court previously observed that religious places are meant for prayer and devotion, and loudspeaker use is not an inherent right. Similarly, the Bombay High Court has called for stricter measures, recognizing that loudspeakers often create disturbances in residential areas.
In May 2022, the Allahabad High Court ruled that using loudspeakers for the azaan is not a fundamental right, dismissing a petition from Irfan, a resident of Uttar Pradesh’s Badaun district, who had challenged a sub-divisional magistrate’s decision denying permission.
These rulings highlight increasing concerns over noise pollution and emphasize the necessity of regulated loudspeaker usage, even in religious contexts.
