Allahabad HC directs UP police not to obstruct mosque aazan if noise limits met

The Allahabad High Court has issued clear directions to Uttar Pradesh police authorities against interfering with the aazan at mosques when noise pollution regulations are strictly adhered to. The court noted that law enforcement and district administration have no legal grounds to obstruct the religious practice if the prescribed decibel limits are observed.

The high court's intervention comes as a clarification of its earlier 2020 judgment, which had established specific noise standards governing the call to prayer. According to the court, compliance with these environmental norms should be sufficient to protect the practice from police intervention.

The directive seeks to balance two competing interests: the constitutional right to religious practice and the obligation to maintain public health standards related to noise pollution. By tying police action to measurable noise thresholds, the court has provided a framework that protects both the rights of Muslim worshippers and the broader public interest in noise control.

The judgment underscores the judiciary's role in mediating disputes between religious practices and civic regulations, ensuring that neither is arbitrarily compromised. Officials in Uttar Pradesh have been directed to follow the court's guidance in handling complaints related to aazans at mosques across the state.