In a case that underscores tensions around religious freedoms and noise regulations, five mosques in Mumbai’s Vikhroli area have approached the Bombay High Court, alleging selective targeting by the police after their loudspeakers were removed and licence renewals denied. The Bombay High Court, acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations, has issued notices to the Mumbai Police and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), asking them to respond before the next hearing on July 9.
Allegations of Bias and Procedural Lapses
Representing the petitioners, Senior Advocate Yusuf Moochala and Advocate Mubin Solkar argued that the police failed to follow due process while removing the loudspeakers, ignoring the guidelines set by the Supreme Court and the Bombay High Court on regulating public address systems. They further alleged that the action was targeted specifically at Muslim places of worship without sufficient grounds, raising concerns of discrimination under the guise of enforcing noise regulations.
The petitioners claim that while they have complied with court-mandated noise norms, authorities have acted on complaints allegedly driven by a campaign from a BJP leader, leading to mosque committees being harassed despite following permissible sound limits. Last week, these concerns were presented to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar by a delegation of Muslim leaders, who sought assurances that mosque committees would not face wrongful actions.
Police Stand and Broader Context
Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar, addressing the concerns on June 28, stated that the police had completed a citywide drive, declaring Mumbai as “loudspeaker-free from all religious structures.” He denied allegations of selective targeting, emphasising that the action covered all religious sites across communities.
Current regulations cap loudspeaker noise levels at 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night, with a complete prohibition between 10 pm and 6 am. While the police claim that these standards have been uniformly enforced, petitioners argue that enforcement has been inconsistent and unfairly harsh on Muslim places of worship, raising questions about administrative overreach and the balance between religious practices and civic order.
The next hearing on July 9 is expected to be crucial in determining whether the loudspeaker removals align with established legal procedures and constitutional safeguards, while clarifying the approach towards maintaining religious freedoms alongside noise regulations in a densely populated urban environment like Mumbai.
