West Bengal removes 5,299 loudspeakers from religious sites

Kolkata: West Bengal government has removed 5299 loudspeakers from religious buildings, including 4203 mosques and rest 1096 temples, across the state, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Thursday.

The removal of loudspeakers have been done amicably with police requesting the religious buildings to remove the loudspeakers, the chief minister said.

Also Read: Use of loudspeakers not essential part of any religion, says HC; orders action against violation


The CM said that this has been done following the Calcutta High Court order in 2020 which has been implemented now.

Several mosques across West Bengal on Wednesday had removed loudspeakers used for azan (call for prayers) following verbal instructions from local police stations.

The new state government earlier this year shifted the venue for the prayers to the Brigade Parade grounds.

Also Read: Religious sites in Mumbai now 'loudspeaker-free', says police chief Deven Bharti

West Bengal Assembly

West Bengal assembly will convene a special one-day session on August 12 to consider Bills for the delimitation of the Kolkata and Howrah municipal corporations, Adhikari said.

The proposed amendments seek to increase the number of wards in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation from 144 to 209 and in the Howrah Municipal Corporation from 50 to 68, paving the way for the delimitation ahead of the civic polls, he said.