Police in the Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Imam Maulana Rafique Khan of Ghumthal village for allegedly using a mosque loudspeaker beyond the allowable decibel limit.
According to The Indian Express, police stated that Khan had previously received warnings after residents expressed concerns regarding excessive noise levels. “A police team had visited the mosque and advised the imam to keep the sound within the permissible decibel limit. Since no corrective action was taken and the violation was repeated, legal proceedings have now been initiated,” commented Station House Officer Manoj Verma.
Khan faces charges under Sections 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant) and 293 (continuance of nuisance after injunction to discontinue) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). In response to the situation, police have deployed security personnel in the Hindu-majority village as a precautionary measure.
The case has ignited discussions regarding the selective enforcement of noise pollution regulations, which are often cited during religious events across various communities, including the azaan, bhajans, and temple bells. Critics argue that these rules are inconsistently applied, predominantly targeting mosques while disregarding similar violations at other places of worship, raising allegations of bias and discrimination.
Commenting on the issue, Caravan consulting editor and Yale University lecturer Sushant Singh noted, “This is rule by law, not rule of law. Rule of law applies to all offenders equally; rule by law to those whom you want to punish.”
In a related incident earlier this year, police in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, removed loudspeakers from the 16th-century Shahi Jama Masjid due to noise pollution concerns, which led the imam to resort to delivering the azan from the rooftop.
This development highlights ongoing tensions surrounding noise regulations in a diverse cultural landscape, where practices associated with different religions often intersect.
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