Muezzin arrested, cop suspended for ‘loud’ azaan in UP

BIJNOR: A mosque muezzin was arrested and sent to jail after Bijnor DM and SP heard an allegedly loud azaan while travelling to a public grievance hearing in Najibabad on Saturday. Police seized the mosque’s loudspeaker and suspended a beat constable for negligence.The incident also prompted a district-wide order requiring police stations to submit affidavits confirming that loudspeakers at religious places complied with prescribed noise limits.DM Umesh Pratap Singh and SP Krishna Kumar Bishnoi were passing through Mohalla Maqbara on their way to a Samadhan Diwas hearing when they heard the azaan being played at an allegedly excessive volume.Bishnoi directed Kotwali police to take action, following which station in-charge Amit Kumar Malik reached the mosque, seized the loudspeaker and detained muezzin Mohammad Faizan.On a complaint by sub-inspector Saurabh Kumar, police registered an FIR against Faizan for allegedly violating noise pollution norms.They also initiated proceedings against him for breach of peace, following which a sub-divisional magistrate’s court sent him to jail. Police subsequently suspended beat constable Lalit Kumar for allegedly failing to enforce noise restrictions in the area.Following the incident, police directed all station in-charges across Bijnor to submit affidavits through their beat constables certifying that loudspeakers at religious places in their jurisdictions operated within permissible limits.They warned that future violations could invite action against the station in-charge and beat personnel concerned.The action followed a district-wide police drive against loudspeakers at religious places in Sept, during which authorities reportedly removed 2,509 loudspeakers, including 1,323 from mosques, 1,116 from temples and 70 from gurdwaras.Religious institutions were also instructed to ensure that remaining loudspeakers operated within prescribed noise limits.Additional SP Krishna Gopal Singh said police were conducting a district-wide campaign to enforce govt and court directions on noise pollution.“Loudspeakers operating beyond the prescribed noise limits will not be allowed at religious places. Caretakers of all religious institutions have been instructed to follow the rules. Police station in-charges have also been directed to ensure compliance in their respective areas,” he said.In an Oct 1 order concerning a mosque in Saharanpur, Allahabad high court directed authorities not to interfere with the five daily azaans as long as the mosque complied with noise pollution rules.The court reiterated that using loudspeakers was not an essential religious practice protected under Article 25 of the Constitution and that their operation remained subject to the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Meerut | Silver Rate in Meerut | Bank Holidays in Meerut | Public Holidays in Meerut | Meerut AQI | Weather in Meerut | Petrol Price in Meerut | Diesel Price in Meerut | CNG Price in Meerut | LPG Price in MeerutStay updated with the latest Meerut news. Download the TOI App.