Ban Loudspeakers Across Faiths to Protect Public Health: Justice Rohinton Nariman

Former Supreme Court judge Justice Rohinton Nariman has called for a nationwide ban on loudspeakers used during religious activities, saying they seriously affect public health and peaceful living.

Speaking at the KM Bashir Memorial Lecture in Thiruvananthapuram on September 1, Justice Nariman said that both loudspeaker use and continuous temple bell ringing disturb citizens’ right to sleep and health. He stressed that such restrictions must apply equally to all religions to avoid any claims of bias.

He observed, “Every faith today seems to be getting louder, making the Lord deaf. Whether it is microphones in mosques or bells in temples, this must stop. Noise pollution directly impacts health, and the State must act uniformly to ban it.” He clarified that loudspeakers may be used inside auditoriums or closed halls, but not outdoors where they disturb the public.

Placing the issue in a constitutional framework, he reminded that the Preamble begins with “We the people of India”—which means all citizens, not just the majority or any one group. He underlined secularism as a pillar of fraternity, which rests on three ideas: no state religion, no religious discrimination, and equal freedom of practice for all.

Justice Nariman referred to Article 25, which guarantees freedom of conscience but allows restrictions on grounds such as public order, morality, health, social welfare, and secular activities. He emphasised that protecting health is a sufficient reason to restrict noise pollution caused by religious practices.

He further explained that fraternity is central to the Constitution, linking it to the national flag. The white band, he said, symbolises peace and harmony among communities, while the Ashoka Chakra represents dharma and moral living. He urged citizens to respect all faiths, study them without denigration, and treat fraternity as a living constitutional value beyond politics.

Justice Nariman also spoke about his new book An Ode to Fraternity, which carries forewords by the Dalai Lama and Cardinal Oswald Gracias. He warned against fanaticism, saying fanatics neither understand their own faith nor respect others.

He concluded by reminding that constitutional values are permanent: “Governments may come and go, but fraternity, dignity, and unity are the foundations of this great nation.”