The court has issued notices to the Maharashtra govt, Mumbai Police, and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and asked to submit responses by July 9
MUMBAI – Five mosques and dargahs in this Maharashtra metropolis have filed a petition in the Bombay High Court, challenging recent police actions involving the removal and non-renewal of loudspeaker licenses used in mosques for azan, the Islamic call to prayer.
The petitioners – including Anjuman Ittehad o Taraqqui Madinah Jama Masjid – maintain that the state’s actions amount to selective, hostile discrimination targeting Muslim places of worship, media reports said on Thursday.
On Tuesday, a bench led by Justices Ravindra V Ghuge and Milind Sathye issued notices to the Maharashtra government, Mumbai Police, and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board. They have been asked to submit responses by July 9, addressing allegations that the notices lacked factual basis, such as date, time, or decibel measurements.
Senior advocate Yusuf Muchhala and advocate Mubin Solkar, representing the petitioners, argued that action was being taken only against mosques.
Primary Grievances
* Notice Deficiencies: The notices reportedly failed to mention essential details like exact violation timings or decibel readings.
* Lack of Measurement Infrastructure: RTI responses indicate Mumbai Police do not possess noise-measuring devices, suggesting enforcement is not data-driven.
* Bureaucratic Overreach: A state circular dated April 11 imposed new requirements—like ownership and land title documents—for loudspeaker licenses, which the petitioners term as unnecessary red tape and “fishing inquiries.”
* Constitutional Violation: Legal representation maintains that the actions breach Articles 14, 15, 21, 25, and 26 of the Constitution, infringing on religious freedom and equality
Multiple Muslim community groups, including mosques and dargahs have accused the police of disproportionately targeting Muslim places of worship, while ignoring similar installations at other religious sites. They argue these actions reflect a bias influenced by political pulls and pressures.
