The Karnataka State Board of Auqaf (Waqf) has banned the management of mosques and dargahs from using loudspeakers between 10 am and 6 am.
The Board, in a circular dated March 9, 2021, cited the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 and stated that loudspeakers used during daytime shall comply with ambient air quality standards in relation to noise.
The circular issued by the Board’s Chief Executive Officer states that the use of generator sets, loudspeakers, and public address systems has a profound impact on people’s health and psychological well-being due to the increasing ambient noise around many mosques and dargahs. .
The issue of the use of loudspeakers in mosques has been raised from time to time in various courts across the country. It is worth noting that some rules of the mosque follow the rules, stated in the circular, and that “paramount importance” is associated with Islam for the harmonious and sustainable preservation of the natural environment.
Instructions issued to the management of mosques and dargahs for “strict compliance” stated that loudspeakers would only be used for this Azan And important announcements such as death, burial time, and viewing of the moon during the day.
Religious namaz, Friday sermons, religious, and socio-cultural and knowledge-based works will be held at the religious campus with speakers installed. Noise governance mechanism can be established in the institution in consultation with local environmental authorities. The circular said that no sound crackers would be burnt around the mosque or the dargah.
The circular asked the management to discourage begging in the religious premises and instead conducted counseling or philanthropic measures at the institutional level.
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