The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition that sought permission for mounting loudspeakers on a mosque, ruling that using loudspeakers at religious sites is not a fundamental right. The decision came from a bench comprising Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Donadi Ramesh, who emphasized that religious places are primarily meant for prayers and that the use of loudspeakers can often disturb public tranquility.
The petitioner, Mukhtiyar Ahmad from Pilibhit, had requested the court to direct state authorities to allow loudspeakers on his local mosque. However, the state counsel challenged the petition’s maintainability on the basis that Ahmad was neither the mutawalli (trustee) of the mosque nor did he have ownership rights over it.
The judges concurred, noting that Ahmad lacked the necessary locus standi—a legal principle that determines whether a party has the right to participate in a lawsuit. They further elaborated that the use of loudspeakers cannot be claimed as a right, especially when it has the potential to create nuisance for nearby residents.
