Mosque trustees question repeated police notices, allege discriminatory treatment and say they are preparing to challenge the action with sound-level measurements
MUMBAI — Police in Malwani have issued fresh notices to several mosques, directing their trustees to remove loudspeakers within three days, prompting objections from mosque representatives who have questioned the repeated action and alleged discriminatory treatment.
The notices were followed by a meeting at the police station, where officials referred to court directions on preventing noise pollution. Representatives of the mosques, including those from Tayyiba Mosque in MHADA, Malad, expressed displeasure over what they described as selective enforcement.
The mosque representatives pointed out that they had also received notices during the Ganpati immersion period. They questioned whether noise levels during the celebrations, including the use of firecrackers, had been monitored in the same manner.
They asked the police whether the noise during Ganpati immersion had been within permissible limits and whether the use of firecrackers, which also causes noise and air pollution, had prompted similar notices to those responsible.
The police reportedly responded that action was taken whenever complaints were received.
Saleem Abdul Sheikh, president of Malwani MHADA Jama Masjid, criticised the repeated notices and said the mosque was already observing prescribed decibel limits.
“This has become a joke. Notices are issued almost every day, and we are repeatedly pressed to remove loudspeakers even though the decibel limits are being fully observed. It seems the police are deliberately targeting Muslims,” he said.
Muhammad Jameel Merchant, head of Merchant Foundation and a representative of Masjid Hazrat Ali, showed the media a notice issued by the police. The document refers to complaints and directs the removal of loudspeakers.
The notice, signed by Senior Inspector Rani Puri, cites a court order in a public interest litigation filed by Dr Mahesh Bedekar against the Maharashtra government in 2010. It also refers to directions issued by the Police Commissioner.
Merchant said the mosque representatives were preparing to document sound levels independently so that they could pursue the matter through legal channels.
“We have also ordered a sound-level measuring device so that we can maintain our own records and take the matter forward legally on that basis,” he said.
The trustees also showed the media records which they said demonstrated that they had regularly applied for and obtained police permission to use loudspeakers.
They alleged that the police had recently been delaying applications and telling them that the government was expected to issue fresh guidelines soon. According to the trustees, this delay in granting permissions has added to the uncertainty surrounding the use of loudspeakers at mosques.
The mosque representatives said they wanted the authorities to apply noise pollution rules consistently and clarify the position on permissions rather than repeatedly issuing notices directing the removal of loudspeakers.
