Indian Secular Front (ISF) MLA Naushad Siddiqui has sought a written order over alleged verbal instructions to remove loudspeakers from mosques in Kolkata, stating that the matter will be taken to court if the administration does not issue an official directive.
According to Siddiqui, he has received complaints from multiple areas alleging that local police verbally instructed mosque management committees to remove microphones and loudspeakers. He claimed that when the committees requested a written order or government notification, no official document was provided. There has been no immediate official response from the administration or the police regarding these claims.
Siddiqui said he has been receiving calls from different localities where people alleged that police officers summoned mosque committees and asked them to remove loudspeakers. He alleged that the instructions were communicated only verbally and that no written order was produced when requested. He said any administrative action should be based on a written order so that its legal validity and status are clear.
He said that if the administration has decided to remove loudspeakers from mosques, it should issue a formal written notification. According to him, if the government or the police has a valid order, it should be made public. Otherwise, the administration should proceed only in accordance with the legal process. He added that seeking the removal of equipment from a religious institution solely on the basis of verbal instructions does not constitute an appropriate administrative procedure.
Siddiqui appealed to people to remain calm and avoid any confrontation with the administration over the issue. He said that anyone objecting to any administrative action should seek legal remedies. He also urged supporters to maintain law and order and avoid any form of provocation.
Siddiqui said there are clear legal provisions in India governing noise pollution. He stated that the Pollution Control Board has prescribed separate decibel limits for industrial, residential, commercial and silence zones. He claimed that most mosques use loudspeakers within the prescribed sound limits. According to him, if any institution violates the prescribed limits, action can be taken under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the applicable noise pollution rules. He also said that compliance with the law should apply equally to all religious and public institutions.
The ISF MLA said that if the administration does not issue a written order and continues to act on the basis of verbal instructions, his party will approach the court. He added that a complaint has been sent by email to the Director General of Police (DGP) of West Bengal. According to the party, it is seeking judicial review of the matter to obtain legal clarity.
The use of loudspeakers at religious places has been the subject of hearings before various courts in India. High Courts and the Supreme Court have, in multiple cases, held that the right to religious freedom is subject to noise pollution regulations and public order. Under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, loudspeakers and public address systems may be used only within the prescribed time limits, with the required permission, and within the specified decibel limits. Local authorities are empowered to take action in cases of violations.
The issue has also triggered political debate in West Bengal, with opposition parties and other political groups expressing differing views. Siddiqui said that any administrative action should be fully transparent and in accordance with the law. The administration has not yet clarified its official position on the matter. Any formal order issued by the government or the police may provide greater legal and administrative clarity.
As of now, no public written order regarding the alleged verbal instructions to remove loudspeakers from mosques has been issued. The absence of an official written directive has led to uncertainty over the matter. The administration's official clarification is awaited to determine whether any broader action has been planned or whether the issue relates only to local-level instructions.
