In its recent judgment, the Allahabad High Court dismissed the plea of petitioner, Muktiyar Ahmed, who pleaded for permission to install loudspeakers in a Masjid.

Dismissing the plea the bench of Justice Ashwani Kumar and Justice Donadi Ramesh, noted that the Writ petition is not maintainable since the petitioner does not have locus for filing the Petition as he was neither a mutwalli nor does he possess ownership of the mosque. The High Court further stated that “religious places are for offering prayer to the divinity, and the use of loudspeakers cannot be claimed as a matter of right as it creates nuisance for other residents as well.”

A similar verdict in regards to the installation of loudspeakers was also held by the Bombay High Court in the case of Jaago Nehru Nagar Residents Welfare Association vs Comissioner of Police (2025), where it was held that “Noise is a major health hazard on various aspects. No one can claim that his rights are affected in any manner if he is denied a permission to use of loudspeaker. It is in public interest that such permissions should not be granted. By denying such permissions, rights under Article 19 or 25 of the Constitution of India are not at all infringed. Use of loudspeakers is not an essential part of any religion."

In May 2020, the Allahabad High Court, in the case of Afzal Ansari & Ors vs State of UP &Ors, ruled that the usage of loudspeakers in mosques is not a fundamental right. The court made strict observations about the usage of loudspeakers in mosques. The court stated that, “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.”

The Karnataka High Court also restricted the usage of loudspeakers in religious places in the case of Rakesh P vs State of Karnataka , where the court made strict rules regarding the permanent license for loudspeaker and Public Address System (PA).

Case Details: Mukhtiyar Ahmad vs. State of UP and 6 Others, W- C No. 35767 of 2024

Advocate for the Petitioner: Mr. Dinesh Kumar

Advocate for the Respondent: C.S.C.