West Bengal police ask mosques to replace rooftop loudspeakers with sound boxes, Muslim organisations raise objections
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Kolkata, August 6: Police across several districts in West Bengal have begun asking mosque committees to remove high-decibel rooftop loudspeakers and replace them with sound boxes, following the newly elected BJP government's decision to strictly enforce existing noise pollution norms at religious places.
_202608061707008252_H@@IGHT_400_W@@IDTH_600.jpg "West Bengal police ask mosques to replace rooftop loudspeakers with sound boxes, Muslim organisations raise objections")
The move comes after the state Cabinet, in its first meeting after assuming office, directed authorities to ensure compliance with the noise limits prescribed by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board. Under the existing rules, permissible noise levels in residential areas are capped at 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night.
Over the past few days, police officials have held meetings with mosque committees in various districts and requested them to replace loudspeakers installed on rooftops with sound boxes. Following these discussions, several mosques have reportedly removed the rooftop loudspeakers.
Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul clarified that the drive is not directed at any particular religious community. She said the Cabinet's decision applies equally to all religious institutions, including temples, mosques and other places of worship, and that no one will be allowed to violate the prescribed noise pollution norms.
Industry Minister Tapas Roy also stated that the government would appeal to all religious institutions to voluntarily comply with the regulations.
However, the implementation has drawn criticism from several Muslim organisations, which argue that the law regulates noise levels rather than mandating the removal of loudspeakers.
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Nijamuddin Biswas, General Secretary of the All Bengal Imam and Muezzin Association, said many mosque committees were complying with police requests but questioned the manner in which the drive was being carried out.
He argued that authorities should first measure the decibel levels at both mosques and temples before taking action, adding that the law only specifies permissible sound limits and does not require loudspeakers to be removed altogether.
Similar concerns were raised by Siddiqullah Chowdhury, President of the West Bengal unit of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, who said court orders prescribe sound limits but do not direct mosques to remove microphones. He said the organisation would oppose any such move if it went beyond the existing legal framework.
Murshidabad MP Abu Taher Khan, who recently joined the NCPI after rebelling against the TMC, said the rules should be enforced uniformly across all religious institutions. He maintained that restrictions should not selectively target mosques while permitting loudspeaker use during festivals of other communities.
Meanwhile, ISF MLA Naushad Siddiqui alleged that police officials had approached mosque committees without issuing any written order. Claiming that he had received multiple complaints from mosque authorities, he said he would move the Calcutta High Court challenging the police action.
The development has triggered a fresh political debate in the state, with the government asserting that it is merely enforcing existing environmental regulations while opposition voices and religious organisations continue to question the manner in which the policy is being implemented.