Follow HC’s orders by taking action against unauthorised loudspeakers on mosques, demands HJS

• It is the duty of the Police and government Administration to follow Court’s orders; still why such a demand has to be made ? Isn’t disobeying Court’s orders, contempt of Court?
• Police and Administration always take a soft stand against the minorities; therefore, Hindus have to look into these matters and then they are accused of fanaticism, disturbing communal harmony etc.

Panjim: Appellant Varun Priyolkar had filed a petition with the Goa Bench of Mumbai High Court, in March 2021, to remove loudspeakers from mosques used for ‘azaan’, under the noise pollution law. The Goa Bench had issued an order after hearing the case that mosques should not have loudspeakers without taking permission of the local administration and even directed the Police to keep a watch on the situation.

Despite additional District Collector’s orders, all mosques in Goa are illegally using loudspeakers for ‘azaan’. Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS), therefore, demanded through a memorandum submitted to North Goa District Collector, for following Court’s orders by taking action against unauthorised loudspeakers. Mr Govind Chodankar, Jayesh Thali, Sushant Dalvi, Chandrakant (Bhai) Pandit, and Mrs Shubha Sawant formed the HJS delegation.

It has been stated in the memorandum that the ‘azaan’ hooted from mosques through illegally fixed loudspeakers is creating noise pollution and fixing loudspeakers cannot be called, a religious tradition. If even people following other religions start following similar practice, it can create a huge problem in the State. In fact, there is no religious base for using loudspeakers on mosques for ‘azaan’ under Islam while getting peaceful sleep is a constitutional right of every citizen. The loudspeakers on mosques fitted in an unauthorised manner, are depriving the majority of people of their such rights. ‘Azaan’ is also creating problems for children and senior citizens living in surrounding areas.