No Law Prohibits Organizing Prayer Meeting In One’s Own House; Prior Permission Not Needed: Chhattisgarh High Court
The Chhattisgarh High Court was considering a writ petition whereby the petitioners sought the quashing of the impugned notices restraining them from conducting a prayer meeting in their house.
Justice Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi, Chhattisgarh High Court
While observing that there is no law restraining any person from organizing prayer/prayer meeting in their dwelling house, the Chhattisgarh High Court has held that there is no need to get prior permission from any authority for conducting a prayer meeting, if the same is organised without violating any law.
The High Court was considering a writ petition whereby the petitioners sought the quashing of the impugned notices restraining them from conducting a prayer meeting in their house.
The Single Bench of Justice Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi held, “'The petitioners are registered owner of said lands where they used to organize 'Prayer Meeting' of the followers of Christianity at their dwelling house since 2016. There is no such law restraining any persons to organize prayer/ prayer meeting in their dwelling house. Further, there is no need to get prior permission from any authority for conducting prayer / prayer meeting, if the same is organized without violating any law.”
Advocate Pritam Singh represented the Petitioner while Dy. Govt. Advocate Shobhit Mishra represented the Respondent.
Arguments
It was the case of the petitioners that the respondent Station House Officer was harassing them by serving notices under Section 94 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS). It was also submitted that, despite the fact that while organising such a prayer, no nuisance or illegal activity was conducted by the petitioners, the SHO had issued notices restraining the petitioners from conducting a prayer meeting in their dwelling house.
Reasoning
The Bench took note of the fact that the petitioners are registered owners of said lands, where they used to organise 'Prayer Meeting' for the followers of Christianity.
Observing that there is no law restraining any person from organising a prayer/ prayer meeting in their dwelling house, the Bench held,“If there is any nuisance caused due to noise pollution or situation of law & order arises, then it is always open for the Authorities to take necessary action under the provisions of the relevant statutes.”
Asking the respondents/police authorities not to interfere with the civil rights of the petitioners and not to harass them under the guise of enquiry, the Bench quashed the impugned notices.
Cause Title: Badri Prasad Sahu v. State Of Chhattisgarh (Neutral Citation: 2026:CGHC:13995)