The Panchavati Police have served notice to the famous Kalaram Mandir in Maharashtra’s Nasik, citing a complaint by a local regarding the illegal use of loudspeakers by the temple authorities. Kalaram is one of Maharashtra’s famous mandirs. PM Narendra Modi visited Kalaram recently as part of his spiritual journey, covering several temples before Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Pran Pratishtha.

The notice served by the police states that a local, Prakash Krishnarao Gawli, has written to the police complaining about the Mandir’s illegal use of loudspeakers. The notice quotes Gawli as saying that songs are played loudly every morning from 6 to 7 AM, disturbing the area’s peace. The complainant also states that the residents cannot sleep due to the ‘noise’, which affects children since their tenth and twelfth board exams are approaching. The Senior Police Inspector has asked the Mandir authorities to take appropriate action.

The swiftness with which police act in cases relating to temples is lacking when they are to act against masjids/mosques. Despite the Supreme Court order against loudspeakers, several mosques continue to use them. Moreover, often, the police fail to implement the orders strictly and end up discouraging the complainants, who are Hindus, more often than not. Furthermore, members of the Muslim community never complained about illegal loudspeakers in their mosques. The bias in the police establishment is visible and also shows what ails Hindu society.