The issue of religious places using loudspeakers without permission has once again become a talking point for citizens and political parties. Recently, MNS chief Raj Thackeray, during the Gudi Padwa rally, said he is not against prayers, but the government should take a decision on removing illegal loudspeakers from mosques. However, RTI data in 2017 showed a total of 2,940 religious places across faiths used loudspeakers without permission. 

The RTI query in 2017 by Navi Mumbai resident Santosh Pachalag had sought information on the number of religious places using loudspeakers without permission in Maharashtra. In its reply, the state government had stated that 1,029 temples, 1,766 mosques, 84 churches, 22 gurudwaras and 39 Budh vihars were violating noise norms.