We are seriously trying to bring under control the sound levels of loudspeakers on mosques !

Gujarat Government’s response to a PIL plea in High Court

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) – The Gujarat Government informed the High Court during the hearing of a PIL plea, ‘Serious efforts are being carried out to bring under control the sound levels of loudspeakers on mosques. The concerned department has been given orders to take strict action with respect to the observation of the rules regarding sound levels in industrial, residential and other areas.’ This plea, which has been filed by Dr Dharmendra Prajapati, demands that the loudspeakers on mosques be banned.

Mr Nikhil Bhatt, Additional Secretary, Home department informed the Court on behalf of the Government that loudspeakers can be permitted for a particular time period. There is a system in place to control noise pollution. We have started a campaign to decide the noise pollution limit.

A complaint was filed against the Zakaria Mosque in Gandhinagar. In this regard, the Government stated that officials went to Gandhinagar and carried out a survey of the mosque. The officials noted that nothing inappropriate was found in the use of the loudspeakers by the mosque during the offering of namaz.

Editorial Viewpoint

If people feel the need to file a PIL plea to ban loudspeakers on mosques, it surely means that these loudspeakers are causing noise pollution. Basically, when the Government itself should take cognisance of this noise pollution and stop it instead of citizens needing to file a PIL plea.