The Gujarat High Court dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a ban on loudspeakers used for the Azaan in mosques, asserting that their use five times a day does not contribute to noise pollution, as stated on Tuesday.

The division bench comprising Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha Mayee dismissed the PIL, asserting that it lacked merit by failing to demonstrate how the amplification of human voice through loudspeakers exceeded permissible decibel limits, thus leading to noise pollution.

The PIL, lodged by Dharmendra Prajapati professing to be a doctor, argued that the utilization of loudspeakers in mosques led to disturbance and noise pollution. Nevertheless, the bench requested clarification on the specific grounds upon which the petitioner asserted that noise pollution was being generated.

"You play music that doesn't cause disturbance?" the Chief Justice questioned, to which petitioner's counsel DG Shukla responded that the music is played in house and not in a public place like mosque.  

"We aren't speaking about music played in homes. You also play loud music for bhajan or aarti in a temple. That doesn't cause disturbance? How does this (Azaan) cause disturbance? This is for few minutes. Less than 10 minutes (through out the day) it is.", Chif Justice Said.

CJ Agarwal inquired about the specific increase in decibel levels during the Azaan.

The advocate, however, emphasised that Azaan takes place five times a day unlike aarti in temples.