Nagpur, Maharashtra|7
th December 2025:
The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has dismissed a petition filed by Masjid A. Gousiya in Gondia district seeking permission to use loudspeakers for offering prayers. The Court ruled that the use of loudspeakers or any form of sound amplification is not an essential part of any religion, including Islam.
The order was delivered on December,1st 2015 by a division bench comprising Justice Anil L. Pansare and Justice Raj D. Wakode.
No Religious Compulsion for Loudspeakers, Says Court.
While hearing the petition filed by the mosque’s managing committee & cleric, the court firmly stated that the petitioners failed to prove that any religion mandates the use of loudspeakers to perform prayers.
The bench cited previous Supreme Court rulings which clearly assert that no religion requires prayers, hymns, or rituals to be performed through voice amplifiers or high-volume sound systems.
The judges remarked that the right to practice or profess religion does not include the right to disturb others. Citizens living in the locality — including children, senior citizens, students, patients, and those with mental-health concerns — have a fundamental right to peace and quiet.
Noise Pollution a Serious Public-Health Concern.
The High Court also used this opportunity to highlight the growing issue of noise pollution in Maharashtra. It observed that loudspeakers — whether for religious events, cultural celebrations, or public functions — often operate beyond permissible decibel levels, posing a “serious threat” to public health.
The bench noted that continuous exposure to loud sounds can trigger stress-related responses, raise cortisol levels, cause headaches, anxiety, mental fatigue, high blood pressure, and even long-term hearing damage.
The court emphasised that freedom of speech and religious practice cannot override public-health and environmental laws.
State Asked to Take Preventive Measures.
Expressing concern over recurring noise-pollution violations in Nagpur and surrounding districts, the Court directed the Maharashtra government to prepare and implement an effective strategy to control and monitor loudspeaker usage across the state.
The judges urged authorities to ensure enforcement of existing noise-pollution regulations rather than offering arbitrary exemptions.
Petition Dismissed.
In conclusion, the Court dismissed the mosque’s plea, stating that there is no absolute right to use loudspeakers, and any such use must strictly follow noise-control norms.
The ruling reinforces earlier judicial positions that religious freedom does not include the freedom to impose amplified sound on others.
