No loudspeakers for azaan, only human voice allowed: Allahabad High Court

May 16: The Allahabad High Court on Friday held that use of loudspeakers is not an integral part of Azaan or necessary for making Azaan effective since other citizens have a right to not hear what they do not want.

Passing the order, the double judge bench, comprising Justice Shashi Kant Gupta and Justice Ajit Kumar said: “We are of the opinion that azaan may be an essential and integral part of Islam but its recitation through loud­speakers or other sound amplifying devices cannot be said to be an integral part of the religion warranting protection of the fundamental right enshrined under Article 25, which is even otherwise subject to public order, morality or health and to other provisions in part III of the Constitution.”

The court made the use of loudspeaker conditional saying that one could not use a loudspeaker for azaan without prior permission of district administration in accordance with the law and norms of noise pollution.