Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Nov 6: The information that the director-general of police (DGP) has written to all the district superintendents of police and police commissioners to act on a complaint made to the DGP's office has given rise to quite a debate in the social media. The letters were shot off from the DGP's office after an advocate sought a ban on the use of loudspeakers in mosques through a complaint lodged in the DGP's office.

Advocate Harsh Mutalik had said in his letter that the calls for namaz, known as Adhan, given five times a day from the mosques over the loudspeakers are disturbing the people around and also the patients. Therefore, he had sought a ban on the use of loudspeakers.

Thereafter a letter was sent from the DGP's office, seeking to take suitable steps as per rules as a complaint has been received seeking to restrain the use of loudspeakers in mosques and to remove them.

This letter has been shared on social media multiple times. A senior police officer, however, said that no order to ban loudspeakers has been issued. The officials said that when complaints are received, the staff place files before the higher officials. 'Verification and taking suitable action' is a normal official jargon used in such cases and it does not tantamount to order. The file containing Mutalik's complaint has not yet reached the DGP, sources added.

"Even though the Supreme Court has ordered the mosques not to use loudspeakers, neither the government nor police department has taken any steps against them. Allahabad high court too, said that if the loudspeakers are not dismantled, necessary steps can be taken. The mosques have been using high decibel loudspeakers which are creating problems," Harsh Mutalik had said in his complaint.

A few who have enclosed both these letters have started a discussion in the social websites seeking to ban the use of loudspeakers. A few have also been expressing the view that banning of loudspeakers results in interfering with the religious freedom of individuals. And therefore, the government should not enforce a ban on them.

State home minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the office of the DGP has not issued any such order banning the use of loudspeakers by the mosques.