Mumbai Muslims seek SOPs for mosque loudspeaker use during Ramzan
Story by ATV | Posted by Aasha Khosa | Date 17-02-2026
A man peeping out from a mosque in Mumbai (Representational Image)
Uwais Siddiqui/Mumbai
A group of Muslim lawyers, law students, and activists in Mumbai have asked the Maharashtra government to finalise a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the use of loudspeakers during the month of Ramadan.
This has been a longstanding demand of Muslims in Mumbai, due to objections by local authorities to the decibel levels of the azan. Many times, the administration has removed loudspeakers from mosque, saying the sound coming out is in violation of the law.
The Bombay High Court is hearing a petitition challenging the police action against mosques for use of loudspeaker.
However, with the holy month of Ramadan approaching, the use of loudspeakers is crucial for the Muslim community. Given this, some young lawyers, activists, and law students in Mumbai have demanded an SOP for the entire city.
We spoke with Advocate Fayaz Alam, one of the campaigners for better understanding between the community and the authorities.demand. Fayaz says that the holy month of Ramadan is about to begin. Many in the community fear that obtaining permission to use loudspeakers will require a lengthy process. This fear leads people to remove their loudspeakers, which will cause inconvenience, especially during Ramadan.
"During the month of Ramadan, many things depend on the loudspeakers in mosques. For example, when fasting, people break their fast by hearing the call to prayer (Adhan) during Sehri. Similarly, when it's time for Iftar, the fast is broken by hearing the call to prayer (Adhan). In the absence of loudspeakers, people will face difficulties," he said.
Advocate Salman Ansari, told Awaz-the Voice, "Just as the authorities issue SOPs and special guidelines for keeping eating and drinking places open at night during Ramadan, we have requested the administration to issue a SOP for the use of loudspeakers. This will allow mosques to use loudspeakers simply by citing that SOP to the local police."
However, the state authorities are yet to respond to the request of the Muslims.
The young lawyers say they will meet with administrative officials with a delegation in the coming days. They will appeal to them to resolve this issue so that no new controversy arises regarding loudspeakers during the month of Ramadan and that people from other communities are not inconvenienced.
Faiz Ali Khan, a law student, said, "We don't want a similar controversy to arise this time around, just like the one that was created recently over loudspeakers. It's especially needed during Ramadan, so we're appealing to the state government and administration to issue guidelines. Loudspeakers should be allowed to be used within the decibel limits set for them, so that no one faces any inconvenience and loudspeakers can be used within the law."
The group of young lawyers have also written letters to various departments of the state government and the Mumbai administration, demanding a special SOP for loudspeaker use.
Letters to the state's Chief Secretary, Police Commissioner, BMC Commissioner, and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board state that the guidelines should clearly state that small, box-type speakers with a "locked decibel limit" should be allowed only during Ramadan.
According to the Pollution Control Board's guidelines (Noise Pollution Rules, 2000), the use of loudspeakers is prohibited from 10 pm to 6 am. The permissible limit for commercial areas is 65 decibels, while for residential areas it is 55.
Currently, the case regarding loudspeakers is pending in the Mumbai High Court. Meanwhile, the young lawyers' demand for a Special Operations (SOP) is limited to Ramadan, so that no new disturbances arise, people from other communities are not inconvenienced, and peace and tranquility prevails everywhere.
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