Ahmedabad: In response to a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a ban on the use of loudspeakers for the azaan (call to prayer) at mosques, the state government informed the Gujarat high court on Monday that it is working on strategies to effectively monitor and control the use of loudspeakers and microphone systems.

The PIL was filed last year by Dr Dharmendra Prajapati of Gandhinagar. In its response, the government stated  “The respondent state is sensitive to the said issue and realistic solutions are being deliberated on to put a check on unregulated or unauthorized use of loudspeakers and microphone systems.” It emphasized that existing rules on public order and noise pollution apply to all, including religious, wedding, and festival gatherings. The government cited relevant laws, rules from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board, orders from the National Green Tribunal, and police training measures on noise pollution control. It also submitted that written permission from authorities is required for the use of loudspeakers and public address systems.

The government assured that it is making sincere efforts to regulate the use of loudspeakers to minimize inconvenience to residents and the public. It also denied the doctor’s allegations that the authorities did not act on his complaints regarding the use of loudspeakers at Zakariya Masjid in Sector 5 in Gandhinagar. The government submitted that an inspection was conducted but the doctor himself refused to provide a statement. DeshGujarat