Munmun Kaur
Published On: February 16, 2022 at 11:36 IST
The Gujarat High Court on February 15 issued Notice to the Gujarat Government to take appropriate measures for banning the use of loudspeakers in mosques all over the State.
The Bench of Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Ashutosh J. Shastri issued the notice on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) moved by Dharmendra Vishnubhai Prajapati, a doctor who is running his clinic in Gandhinagar district.
The Plea stated that due to COVID regulations the persons are restricted to move around, as a result of which, persons from the community are not coming for prayer at the said Mosque. As a result, loudspeakers are used at the time of prayer which causes great inconvenience and disturbance to the nearby residents.
The Plea further read that the loudspeaker is very hectic and intolerable for the public at large, which causes many severe mental illnesses, physical problems to an old aged person including small children and further it also affects the work efficiency of the public at large and therefore, it is not good for health.
The Petitioner also referred to the 2020 Judgment of the Allahabad High Court wherein the High Court held that Azan is certainly an essential and integral part of Islam but the use of microphone and loud-speakers is not an essential and integral part thereof.
The Plea also informed the High Court that the Petitioner made several written Complaints to the concerned authorities, however, no action was taken.
Issuing the notice, the High Court has made it returnable for March 10.