Religious Places Are For Offering Prayers, Loudspeaker Use Not A Right As It Often Causes Nuisance To Residents: Allahabad HC

The Allahabad High Court recently observed that religious places are primarily for offering prayers to the divinity, and thus, the use of loudspeakers cannot be claimed as a matter of right, especially when such use often creates a nuisance for the residents. The Court further emphasised that since religious places are for offering prayers to the divinity, the use of loudspeakers cannot be claimed as a matter of right. "Azan is certainly an essential and integral part of Islam but use of microphone and loud-speakers is not an essential and an integral part thereof.Azan can be recited by Muezzin from minarets of the Mosques by human voice without using any amplifying device and such recitation cannot be hindered with under the pretext of violation of the Guidelines issued by the State, to contain the pandemic- Covid19," a bench of Justices Shashi Kant Gupta and Ajit Kumar has held. Importantly, in 2022, the Allahabad High Court dismissed a contempt plea filed regarding the usage of loudspeakers in the Temple and Mosque while observing that the same is a Case title - Mukhtiyar Ahmad vs. State Of Up And 6 Others 2025 LiveLaw 27 Case citation: 2025 LiveLaw 27 Click Here ToRead/Download Order