The City Corporation of Panaji has by issuing an order earlier this week , banned recital of prayers on loudspeaker/public address system at one of the largest Muslim burial grounds in the city.
Commissioner of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), Ajit Roy, issued the order on November 24, and said this was being done to prevent breach of peace and tranquility in nearby areas.
“It has been brought to the notice from surrounding areas at St. Inez, Panaji, that the prayers are carried out through loudspeakers/public address system with very high decibels at the burial ground of Muslim(s) kabrasthan at St. Inez,” the order states.
“The community should ensure that no prayers to be held on Muslim burial ground/kabrasthan by loud speakers/public address systems so as to avoid disturbing the public peace and tranquility in the surrounding areas,” the order further stated.
Sources said the issue had been brought to the notice of CCP on several occasions before the Commissioner issued the order.
Babani Sheikh, chairman of Jamat Ul Muslimeen, Panaji, which operates the burial ground, told The Hindu on Wednesday that the cemetery has been registered and conducting burials for more than 17 years without any complaints. “The loudspeaker,” he said, “is used for azaan for two minutes and prayers for five minutes during final rites, which does not disturb anybody.”
Mr. Sheikh also claimed that the CCP has no authority to intervene in the cemetery affairs, and hence the order itself was not legal.
