Bhopal college principal alleges Azaan disturbing students during studies, sparks row

India Today

26-06-2025

Bhopal's Hamidia College Principal has lodged a complaint with the government over the sound of Azaan from a mosque adjacent to the college and has urged necessary action on the matter. Pushpalata Chouksey, the Principal of the college, has alleged that the mosque is built on land meant for the college's science department, and the loudspeaker disrupts classes and examinations. She has demanded a land demarcation, claiming the mosque occupies the space designated for the science building of the college. advertisementSpeaking to India Today, Chouksey said the constant noise affects students' concentration and has urged authorities to clarify where the science block should be constructed.
The Bhopal Collector reportedly responded to her letter and has asked concerned officials to look into the matter. When India Today visited the campus, the sound of Azaan was clearly heard during study hours. College librarian Amita Singh pointed out the mosque adjacent to the library and said it is close to an open ground where students play and vehicles are parked. She also highlighted past incidents of theft at the library, which were reported to the police.In response, Imam Hafiz Mohammad Farooq refuted the allegations, asserting that the mosque is nearly 300 years old and stands on Waqf land, not college property. He accused the college of singling out the mosque while ignoring similar noise from a nearby temple, adding that the mosque voluntarily lowers its volume during exams.advertisementThe issue has now taken a political turn. BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma backed the principal, citing Supreme Court guidelines and the state's noise pollution laws. Meanwhile, Congress MLA Arif Masood accused the principal of raising the issue for political gain and said the mosque committee is already cooperating by controlling the volume when necessary. - Ends