India, Aug. 8 -- The Bombay high court on Thursday directed the state government to submit in writing its objection to the maintainability of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking permission to use loudspeakers for purposes of azan at 24 mosques across Mumbai. The petitioner, Mohammed Yusuf Umar Ansari, is the general secretary of Hazrat Khwaja Garib Nawaz Welfare Association, Maharashtra.

During the hearing on Thursday, government pleader PH Kantharia raised preliminary objections to the locus standi as well as maintainability of the petition. There were four criminal cases against Ansari, the petitioner, and he was externed from Mumbai via an order dated May 16 this year, Kantharia told the court.

"Despite the externment order, h...