Noida loudspeaker row: 900 religious places, including 600 temples, get legal notices

Nearly 900 religious places, including over 600 temples, in Noida and Gautam Buddh Nagar district received legal notices to regulate the use of loudspeakers in their establishments.

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing loudspeaker controversy, nearly 900 religious places, including over 600 temples, in Noida and Gautam Buddh Nagar district received legal notices this week to regulate the use of loudspeakers in their establishments

The notice directed these religious establishments to adhere to the Allahabad High Court’s order on the use of sound amplification devices.

“Notices were sent to 602 temples out of 621 temples, 265 mosques out of 268 mosques, 16 other religious places. Apart from these, 217 wedding places, and 175 DJ operators were also served notices regarding the use of loudspeakers,” a statement from Noida police said as per PTI

आगामी त्योहारों को शांतिपूर्ण/सकुशल संपन्न कराए जाने के मद्देनजर कमिश्ररेट के थानों पर संभ्रांत व्यक्तियों/धर्म गुरुओं के साथ शांति समिति की बैठक की गई।

ध्वनि विस्तारक यंत्रों के सम्बन्ध में माननीय न्यायालय द्वारा दिए गए निर्देशों का पालन करने हेतु नोटिस दिए गए। pic.twitter.com/mEYHiYwZrE — POLICE COMMISSIONERATE GAUTAM BUDDH NAGAR (@noidapolice) April 20, 2022

Noida police later visited places of worship, banquet halls and DJs to examine sound devices and ensure proper use of loudspeakers. The police said that strict actions will be taken against the defaulters.

This comes after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday held a late-night video call with officials and directed them to ensure that the sound of a loudspeaker remains confined to the premises it is being played in.

Meanwhile, CM Adityanath on Tuesday issued a set of guidelines pertaining to the use of loudspeakers in religious processions ahead of Eid and Akshay Tritiya. The order said that no religious procession should be taken out without permission and that usage of loudspeakers should not inconvenience others.

कोई शोभायात्रा/धार्मिक जुलूस बिना विधिवत अनुमति के न निकाली जाए। अनुमति से पूर्व आयोजक से शांति-सौहार्द कायम रखने के संबंध में शपथ पत्र लिया जाए।
अनुमति केवल उन्हीं धार्मिक जुलूसों को दिया जाए, जो पारंपरिक हों, नए आयोजनों को अनावश्यक अनुमति न दी जाए:#UPCM श्री @myogiadityanath जी — CM Office, GoUP (@CMOfficeUP) April 18, 2022

“No procession/religious procession should be taken out without due permission. Before permission, an affidavit should be taken from the organizer regarding maintaining peace and harmony. Permission should be given to only those religious processions, which are traditional, new events should not be given unnecessary permission,” the order read.