The Calcutta High Court on Thursday, August 13, questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party-led West Bengal government on whether it had directed mosques to remove loudspeakers in the state.The division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Atarup Banerjee asked the State government after a public interest litigation (PIL) opposed the alleged police instructions directing mosques to take down loudspeakers. Filed by lawyer Danish Farooqui, the plea alleged that the authorities issued “blanket verbal directions” in multiple districts to places of worship, including temples and mosques.Plea for immediate interim order declined When Banerjee sought an order restricting the State from removing the loudspeakers, the court questioned how such an order could be given when the particulars are missing. He flagged the lack of specific instances where the mosque managements were directed by police officials. Instead, Banerjee asked for an immediate interim order confined to Hooghly district, which the court declined. It adjourned the matter till the State obtained its instructions.