Seventeen first information reports have been registered against caretakers and clerics of different mosques in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district for allegedly violating Supreme Court and state government guidelines on the use of loudspeakers, PTI reported on Tuesday.

Superintendent of Police Omveer Singh said that the cases were filed at several police stations as part of a district-wide drive against the use of high-decibel loudspeakers at religious places, according to the news agency.

In July 2005, the Supreme Court banned the use of loudspeakers and music systems between 10 pm and 6 am, except in cases of public emergencies. In 2022, the Uttar Pradesh government issued guidelines restricting the use of loudspeakers at places of worship.

In Ballia, a case was registered at the Bansdih Road police station against Maulvi Mohammad Shahjahan of the Gothhuli Mosque under sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and the Environment Protection Act, 1986, based on a complaint by Sub-Inspector Mahendra Rawat, PTI reported.

The complaint stated that two large loudspeakers were installed on the mosque and played at high volume despite repeated warnings, causing disturbance to residents.

Another case was registered at the Bheempura police station against Mohammad Salim Ansari, caretaker of the Shodhanpur Mosque, under the same sections, PTI reported. Police said three loudspeakers had been installed there and that, despite objections from locals, the azaan and prayers continued to be broadcast at high volume.

In a separate incident, two FIRs were registered in Ballia’s Kotwali police station against Haider Ali, caretaker of Jamua mosque, and Ghulam Arshad, caretaker of Umarganj mosque.

“Similar FIRs were also registered at Nagara, Pakri, and Reoti police stations against mosque caretakers and clerics for non-compliance with noise control norms,” PTI quoted an unidentified police official as saying.

Earlier this month, the police in Shamli district filed a first information report against an imam, or religious leader, for allegedly playing a loudspeaker at a mosque beyond the permissible decibel limit. The decibel limit at which the loudspeaker was playing was not specified.

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