IANS

Lucknow, Dec 13: A community council in an Uttar Pradesh town has banned loud music and bands at marriage functions, saying they violate the provisions of the Shariat (Islamic law) and are a waste of money.

A panchayat (community council) of the Ansari community in Rajowala village near Shamli town in Muzaffarnagar, some 350 km from Lucknow, issued the order Friday night and hundreds of people from over 20 villages around Shamli unanimously agreed to abide by it, according to local residents.

Those who flout the order would face a social boycott and fines. In some cases, they could also be asked to leave the villages.

"The main idea behind issuing such an order was to save money that is wasted on arranging bands and DJs. That amount could be used for a constructive purpose like helping the poor and needy," panchayat member Yaqoob Ansari told reporters in Muzaffarnagar.

"Members of the community who would defy the order may be slapped with a fine that would be decided by the panchayat members. If the panchayat members feel it necessary, those going against the order may even have to leave the village as a part of the punishment," he added.

The panchayat members said this ban would particularly help the poor parents in the marriage of their daughters.

"With the implementation of the order, parents who are financially weak will not have the pressure of arranging a band, for which one needs to shell out a hefty amount," said Zakir Ansari, another member of the panchayat.

Muslim clerics in Lucknow expressed support for the measure but criticised the provision of social boycott for violators.

"Saying no to loud music is understandable as it causes noise pollution. It is even welcome when people plan to help the poor from the money that is to be spent on loud music. However, I feel the social boycott of those defying the order cannot be justified under any circumstances," Maulana Khalid Rasheed, a prominent Sunni cleric who heads the Firangi Mahal, Lucknow's oldest Islamic seminary, told IANS.