Authorities in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district have removed loudspeakers from a mosque for exceeding permissible noise levels, a police official confirmed on Sunday.
The action was taken against Mosque Punjabian after its loudspeakers were found to be operating at an excessively high volume, violating noise control regulations.
Officials from Chandosi Police Station carried out the removal as part of routine enforcement.
According to the FIR, the loudspeaker volume exceeded limits set by the Allahabad High Court.
Police officers on patrol removed the horn-shaped loudspeakers after receiving a report from beat constable Jitender Kumar on Saturday at around 7 PM.
The FIR also named the mosque’s Imam, Shakeel Shamsi, son of Abdul Shamad Shamsi, as part of the investigation.
Authorities further initiated legal action under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 223 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant), 270 (Public nuisance), and 292 (Punishment for public nuisance), along with provisions of noise pollution laws.
In 2022, the Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, introduced strict regulations on the use of loudspeakers at religious sites.
The move, aimed at preventing communal disturbances, led to the removal of over 3,000 unauthorized loudspeakers from places of worship across different faiths.
As per the guidelines, loudspeakers must installed within religious premises and should not cause disturbances outside. Any installation violating these norms is subject to removal by authorities.
In January, the Allahabad High Court however reaffirmed that religious places serve primarily for worship and ruled that using loudspeakers is not a fundamental right.
Justices Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Donadi Ramesh dismissed a plea from a Pilibhit resident seeking permission to install loudspeakers at mosques, emphasizing the need to uphold noise pollution laws.
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