The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has dismissed a petition filed by Masjid Gousiya in Gondia seeking permission to use loudspeakers for offering prayers, holding that the use of sound amplification equipment cannot be claimed as a matter of right while practising religion.

A division bench of Justices Anil Pansare and Raj Wakode, in its December 1 order, relied on Supreme Court rulings to reiterate that no religion mandates the offering of prayers through voice amplifiers or beating of drums. The court noted that the petitioner failed to produce any material to show that loudspeaker use was mandatory for religious practice.

“The petitioner, therefore, is not entitled to seek relief for the installation of a loudspeaker, as of right. The petition is accordingly dismissed,” the ben

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