Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 25: Even as a writ petition on the issue was under consideration in the state high court, the Siddapur police had removed loudspeakers mounted on the mosques within their command area on December 22. Many had protested against this move and condemned the police action. Several leaders of different mosque committees including Siddapur Masjid Committee and Jayanagar Masjid Federation had met highly placed officials and urged them to investigate this incident.

It may be recalled that many have often approached the courts seeking relief as sounds emitted by loudspeakers create problems for them. The courts had ordered that the sound level of the loudspeakers should be tuned to less than 60 decibels.

Taking note of these developments, the police returned the loudspeakers to the mosques on December 23. The mosques were finding it hard to give their 'Azan' call for prayer. Former corporator, Mujahiid Pasha, provided loudspeakers to five mosques after realising their difficulties.

Within minutes of this development the high court gave its verdict on this petition. The high court has ordered for removing the loudspeakers from the mosques and the police have served notices to them. Daily use of loudspeakers has been restrained and permission has been given to use them on special days and occasions only.

The division bench of the high court led by Chief Justice Rituraj Awasthi which heard several public interest litigations seeking to enforce ban on high decibel loudspeakers, gave the above instructions. The bench gave its opinion that the noise pollution from loudspeakers should be stopped and they should not be allowed to use regularly and permanently. Fifteen different mosques named as defendants have been asked to explain under which law they have been given permission to use loudspeakers.

The high court also said that Wakf Board is not the competent authority to permit use of loudspeakers. It said that competent authority alone can give permission and asked those loudspeakers that are used without permission to be removed. The police said in their notices that if the loudspeakers creating noise pollution are not removed, the managing committees of mosques will face legal action.