Calcutta HC PIL Challenges Bengal Govt Order to Remove Loudspeakers From Religious Places

August 10, 2026

Kolkata: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Calcutta High Court challenging the West Bengal government’s order to remove microphones and loudspeakers from religious places across the state.

PIL Challenges Legal Basis of Order

The PIL was filed by four-time Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member and senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee on behalf of lawyer Danish Faruqi. The petition questions the legal basis of the order, particularly the removal of loudspeakers and microphones from mosques.

Banerjee alleged that police personnel acted on a verbal direction from Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to remove loudspeakers and microphones from mosques.

“This has become a new trend in West Bengal in the new regime. The Chief Minister says something and the police implement the order without an official order or memo being issued,” Banerjee said.

The PIL was admitted by a division bench headed by Calcutta High Court Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty. However, the date for the first hearing has not yet been announced.

Plea Filed Against Removal From Mosques

Meanwhile, another petition was filed before a single-judge bench of Justice Sougata Bhattacharya seeking permission to hold a protest rally on Tuesday from Rajabazar in North Kolkata to Rani Rashmoni Road in central Kolkata.

The petition, filed by Abdul Samad through advocate and CPI(M) leader Sabyasachi Chattopadhyay, opposes the recent action involving the removal of microphones and loudspeakers from mosques. The matter may be taken up later on Monday.

Opposition Accuses Govt of Targeting Mosques

Opposition parties have accused the state government of specifically targeting mosques over the removal of loudspeakers and microphones.

However, Chief Minister Adhikari has maintained that the action applies to all religious places, including temples, and is not restricted to mosques.