Mosque muezzin jailed in India’s UP over ‘loud’ azaan

A mosque muezzin was arrested and sent to jail in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, after the district magistrate and superintendent of police allegedly heard an excessively loud azaan while travelling to a public grievance hearing on Saturday.

Police seized the mosque’s loudspeaker and suspended a beat constable for alleged negligence in enforcing noise restrictions.

According to The Times of India's report on Monday, the incident also prompted a district-wide order requiring police stations to submit affidavits confirming that loudspeakers at religious places in their jurisdictions were operating within prescribed noise limits.

District Magistrate Umesh Pratap Singh and Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Bishnoi were passing through Mohalla Maqbara on their way to a Samadhan Diwas public grievance hearing when they heard the azaan being broadcast at an allegedly excessive volume.

Bishnoi directed Kotwali police to take action. Station in-charge Amit Kumar Malik subsequently reached the mosque, seized the loudspeaker and detained muezzin Mohammad Faizan.

Following a complaint filed by sub-inspector Saurabh Kumar, police registered a first information report (FIR) against Faizan for allegedly violating noise pollution regulations.

Police also initiated proceedings against him for breach of peace, after which a sub-divisional magistrate’s court sent him to jail.

Beat constable Lalit Kumar was later suspended 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 respective jurisdictions were operating within permissible limits.

Authorities warned that future violations could lead to action against the station in-charge and the beat personnel concerned.

The move followed a district-wide police drive against loudspeakers at religious places in September, during which authorities reportedly removed 2,509 loudspeakers — 1,323 from mosques, 1,116 from temples and 70 from gurdwaras.

Religious institutions were also instructed to ensure that any remaining loudspeakers operated within the prescribed noise limits.

Additional SP Krishna Gopal Singh said police were conducting a district-wide campaign to enforce government and court directives 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 order issued on October 1 concerning a mosque in Saharanpur, the Allahabad High Court directed authorities not to interfere with the five daily azaans as long as the mosque complied with noise pollution regulations.

The court reiterated that the use of 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.