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The Inspector-General of Police, Prayagraj, has asked the district magistrate to ensure a ban on the use of loudspeakers between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. This is in response to a complaint filed by Allahabad University Vice-Chancellor Sangita Srivastava seeking restrictions on the use of loudspeakers in, early morning in mosques.

The ban will cover the use of all loudspeakers and public address systems at public places.

In a letter to the district magistrates and Senior Superintendents of Police in the four districts that fall under the Prayagraj Range, IG K.P. Singh said the officials must implement orders of the Supreme Court and the Allahabad High Court.

Srivastava had written wrote a letter to District Magistrate Bhanu Chandra Goswami, citing that the morning prayers (Azan) from the nearby mosque in the Civil Lines area disturbs her sleep around 5.30 am every morning.

In her letter, the Allahabad Univeristy VC said that her sleep gets disturbed every morning and also results in a headache throughout the day.

Taking note of Srivastava’s complaint, the mosque authorities changed the direction of the loudspeakers and turned down the volume of the public address system.

In January 2020, the Allahabad High Court ruled that no religion advocates use of loudspeaker for worship. The petitioner had challenged an administrative order in the Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh where use of loudspeaker for azaan had been banned.

The high court had said, "No religion prescribes that prayers are required to be performed through voice amplifiers or by beating of drums. If there is such a practice, it should not adversely affect rights of the others, including that of not being disturbed."

Delivering its order, the high court cited a Supreme Court judgment from 2000 in which the court held that the freedom to practice religion was subject to public order, morality and health.