Imam Booked in UP’s Shamli for Playing Mosque Loudspeaker Beyond Allowed Sound Limit
Police say the imam continued to use the loudspeaker at high volume despite prior warnings from authorities.
An imam in Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli district has been booked for allegedly violating noise pollution norms by playing a mosque loudspeaker above the permitted sound level.
According to police, the incident took place in Ghumthal village, where Imam Maulana Rafique Khan was previously cautioned after residents complained about the loud volume of the mosque’s loudspeaker.
“After receiving complaints, a police team had visited the mosque and advised the imam to reduce the sound and keep it within the permissible decibel limit. However, when the violation continued, we initiated legal proceedings,” said Station House Officer Manoj Verma.
Khan has been charged under Sections 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant) and 293 (continuance of nuisance after injunction to discontinue) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Police have also deployed security personnel in the predominantly Hindu village as a precautionary measure to maintain peace.
The incident has sparked debate over the alleged selective enforcement of noise pollution laws. Critics argue that while such rules are often invoked against mosques for playing the azaan, similar actions are rarely taken against other religious places where loudspeakers are used for bhajans or temple bells.
Commenting on the controversy, Sushant Singh, consulting editor at Caravan and lecturer at Yale University, said, “This is rule by law, not rule of law. Rule of law applies to all offenders equally; rule by law to those whom you want to punish.”
Earlier this year, in February, police in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district removed loudspeakers from the historic Shahi Jama Masjid, citing noise pollution concerns. Following the move, the mosque’s imam continued delivering the azaan from the rooftop.
