Maha looks to frame rules on use of loudspeakers at religious sites

MUMBAI: Maharashtra is likely to formulate guidelines for allowing loudspeakers in religious places in a couple of days, state home minister Dilip Walse Patil said on Monday, attempting to forestall a swirling communal controversy.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have stirred a row over the use of loudspeakers at mosques for azaan and demanded their removal. Their stand has ratcheted up tensions across the state with MNS chief Raj Thackeray issuing an ultimatum and saying that loudspeakers from all mosques should be removed by May 3.

On Sunday, the administration in Nashik denied permission to the MNS and said it couldn’t use loudspeakers within 100 meters of a mosque, 15 minutes before and after the azaan.

Patil said the guidelines will be finalised in a meeting of director general of police Rajneesh Seth and Mumbai police commissioner Sanjay Pandey, after which a notification will be issued.

He reiterated that strict action would be taken against any person or organisation trying to create communal tension. “The situation (after communal clashes in parts of the state) is under control and police are watching it very carefully. The local police have been asked to take appropriate steps,” he said.

The home department is expected to make permission for loudspeakers at religious places mandatory. According to previous judicial orders, permission to use loudspeakers at religious places is mandatory and the managements of these sites are expected to adhere to permissible decibel levels.

“We have issued orders earlier in accordance with the cases in Bombay high court. None of the courts has prohibited loudspeakers at the religious places, including mosques. In an order about ten years ago, the court had asked the administration to monitor the noise levels (of loudspeakers at religious places) and maintain the same at a permissible level. “The state government has been saying that there was no need to remove the loudspeakers from the mosques, but does it have the willpower to take action against the loudspeakers put up without taking permission? Will it initiate cases against the responsible?,” state BJP vice-president Madhav Bhandari said.

STRICT ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN AGAINST THOSE TRYING TO CREATE TENSION, SAYS PATIL