All religions guilty of using illegal speakers: RTI data

The issue of religious places using loudspeakers without permission has once again become a talking point for citizens and political parties. Recently, MNS chief Raj Thackeray, during the Gudi Padwa rally, said he is not against prayers, but the government should take a decision on removing illegal loudspeakers from mosques. However, RTI data in 2017 showed a total of 2,940 religious places across faiths used loudspeakers without permission.

The RTI query in 2017 by Navi Mumbai resident Santosh Pachalag had sought information on the number of religious places using loudspeakers without permission in Maharashtra. In its reply, the state government had stated that 1,029 temples, 1,766 mosques, 84 churches, 22 gurudwaras and 39 Budh vihars were violating noise norms.

MNS members protest the use of loudspeakers illegally, near a mosque at Andheri East on Tuesday. Pic/Anurag Ahire

Raj Thackeray had even warned that if the government fails to remove loudspeakers from the mosques, he will ask MNS functionaries to put loudspeakers before the mosques and play Hanuman Chalisa.

In 2014, while hearing a PIL on the illegal use of loudspeakers by mosques filed by Pachalag, the Bombay High Court had directed the police to remove the illegal loudspeakers. Pachalag had filed the RTI query in 2017 when he found no concrete action by police against the illegal use of loudspeakers as per the HC direction in 2014.

He also filed a contempt petition after 2017 against the state machinery and police for failing to act on the HC directive. He is waiting for the case to resume. "Due to COVID-19 the case did not progress. Now, with the court resuming functioning the way it did before the pandemic, I am waiting for a proper hearing to begin, so the case is pursued to its logical end."

Speaking to mid-day, Pachalag said, "Mumbai, followed by Navi Mumbai, tops the charts when it comes to violation of noise pollution norms by religious places in Maharashtra. But everyone is equal before the law. The police should act against all violating religious places. No one should be spared."

1,766
No. of mosques using loudspeakers without permission

1,029
No. of temples using loudspeakers without permission