The Yogi Adityanath government has decided to toughen laws regulating use of loudspeakers at religious places.
The government told this to the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court during the hearing of a plea seeking ban on use of loudspeakers at religious places. The government also sought ten days’ time from the court to work upon its proposal.
The petitioner had in the plea cited the Supreme Court’s 17-year-old judgement which banned usages of loudspeakers between 10 pm and 6 am.
The High Court asked the state government to strictly adhere to the law and soon formulate a law in this regard. The court fixed November 13 as the next date of hearing.
Earlier, Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam had triggered a major controversy when he dubbed early morning Azaan as cacophonous and intimidation in nature.
The government said that law should be equal for everyone and that no discrimination will be allowed on the basis of religion and caste.
Meanwhile, All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) member and convenor of the Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC) Zafaryab Jilani said that government should think before taking any step to formulate law. He said that if the government passes any law, it will not only apply on the Azaan but also affect the usage of loudspeakers in temples and jagrans.
Maulana Rashid Khalid Firangi Mahali, a member of the AIMPLB, said that the law should be equal for everybody and it should also including the usages of loudspeakers in political leaders rallies.
On the other hand, Dr Ram Vilas Vedanti, a member of Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, said that the ban should be imposed unnecessarily and that loudspeakers be allowed during Yajna and pujas.
