Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Calcutta High Court dismisses PIL over Bengal mosque loudspeaker ban
A big court in Kolkata, the Calcutta High Court, said no to a case about loudspeakers.
Some people had asked the court to stop the police from taking away loudspeakers from mosques, which are Muslim places of worship.
The court said the case could not continue.
The government of West Bengal says it is removing loudspeakers to follow noise rules.
These rules say that religious places should not be too loud, because loud noise can bother people.
The government says it treats all religions the same and removed loudspeakers from both mosques and temples.
More than five thousand loudspeakers were affected across the state.
Some people, like a leader named Naushad Siddiqui, think the police are being too strict.
They worry that the rules may be used unfairly.
The government and the court say the rules apply to everyone and no community is being singled out.
The Calcutta High Court dismissed a PIL challenging the removal of loudspeakers from mosques across Bengal.
A Division Bench of acting Chief Justice Tapobrata Chakraborty and Justice Atarup Banerjee delivered the decision on Tuesday.
Government data showed action was taken against 5,299 loudspeakers across 34 police districts as of Wednesday, including 4,203 from mosques and 1,096 from temples.
The state government says enforcement is uniform and based on a 2020 Calcutta High Court directive requiring sound limits at religious places.
Bhangar MLA Naushad Siddiqui had objected to what he called excessive police intervention and called for a uniform microphone policy.
- Who
- The Calcutta High Court (Division Bench of acting Chief Justice Tapobrata Chakraborty and Justice Atarup Banerjee), the West Bengal state government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, and Bhangar MLA Naushad Siddiqui.
- What
- The High Court dismissed a PIL challenging the removal of loudspeakers from mosques across Bengal; action was taken against 5,299 loudspeakers.
- When
- The decision came on Tuesday, with enforcement data reported as of Wednesday.
- Where
- Calcutta High Court and locations across West Bengal (Bengal), India.
- Why
- To enforce noise pollution rules based on a 2020 Calcutta High Court directive requiring religious places to keep sound levels within prescribed limits.
Government and High Court position
Bhangar MLA Naushad Siddiqui's position
Loudspeaker removal drive
Government and High Court position
Police action enforces existing noise pollution regulations based on a 2020 Calcutta High Court directive, applied uniformly to all religious places.
Bhangar MLA Naushad Siddiqui's position
Restrictions and notices on microphone use are excessive police intervention that could undermine lawful and democratic activities; Siddiqui called for a uniform policy across the state.
Treatment of religious communities
Government and High Court position
The action is not directed at any particular community, and rules are being enforced equally at mosques and temples.
Bhangar MLA Naushad Siddiqui's position
Complaints received from several districts about restrictions on microphones during political, social and religious programmes highlight concerns within affected communities during the wider political debate.
- Court
- Calcutta High Court
- Bench
- Acting Chief Justice Tapobrata Chakraborty and Justice Atarup Banerjee
- Decision
- PIL dismissed
- Loudspeakers acted against
- 5,299
- Police districts covered
- 34
- Microphones removed from mosques
- 4,203
- Microphones removed from temples
- 1,096
- Legal basis
- 2020 Calcutta High Court directive on sound limits at religious places