Chennai: The Madras High Court has issued a notice to the Hidayathul Muslimin Sunnath Jamath in Thudiyalur, Coimbatore, in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the use of a public road for Friday congregational prayers, reported the Madhyamam.
The notice, which must be responded to by June 11, was issued by a special summer vacation bench consisting of Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy and Justice T.V. Thamilselvi. The court acknowledged a submission by Additional Advocate General (AAG) M.S. Suresh Kumar, representing the Coimbatore District Collector, who noted that there had been no obstruction on the road since April 18, 2025.
The AAG also informed the court that revenue officials had conducted peace committee meetings with local residents and were closely monitoring the situation.
Special Government Pleader N.R.R. Arun Natarajan, representing the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, supported the administration’s stance. He stated that the Friday prayers had not caused disruptions to any nearby temples.
The PIL was filed by S. Vijesh, an employee at Lakshmi Mills Works in Nilambur, who was represented by advocate C.K. Chandrasekhar. The petitioner claimed that the overflow of worshippers onto the adjacent public road between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. caused inconvenience to local residents, blocked access to two temples, and led to traffic congestion due to unregulated vehicle parking. He argued that such obstructions posed risks during emergencies by potentially hindering access for emergency services.
During the hearing, Justice Ramamoorthy remarked, “Ultimately, we are a multi-religious country. So, reasonable accommodation must be extended by people of every faith.” The court, emphasizing the need to hear the Jamath’s side, issued a formal notice and postponed the matter for further hearing after two weeks.
