Azaan v Bhajan: Karnataka mandates written permission for use of loudspeakers

The State Government on Tuesday mandated written permission for all users of loudspeakers and public address systems as the issue of bhajan v ajaan escalated in parts of Karnataka with pro-Hindu outfits taking to chanting Hanuman Chalisa loudly.

The direction from the government, signed by chief secretary P Ravikumar, has asked users of loud speakers and public address systems to take written permission from the authorities concerned within two weeks.

Pro-Hindu activists launched a Hanuman Chalisa chanting campaign on Monday to counter use of loudspeakers for Azaan at mosques. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had chaired a meeting with officials in Bengaluru on Monday where he asked them to strictly implement the Supreme Court orders related to noise pollution control in a "cordial way."


The Noise Pollution rules, 2000, prescribes the ambient air quality standard in respect of noise. The rules considers 6 am to 10 pm as day time and 10 pm to 6 am as night time, and bars use of loudspeakers during night hours, except in closed doors.
Those who don't take written permission from authorities should either remove the loud speakers on their own, or face removals from government authorities, the government's note says.

The government has designated committees consisting of police, revenue/urban and pollution control board authorities to examine requests for use of loudspeakers and give permission if necessary.