The Allahabad High Court has issued a contempt notice to two administrative officials in Bareilly district, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly preventing Muslims from offering namaz inside a private residence. The court observed that its earlier ruling allowing prayer meetings within private premises without prior state permission appeared, prima facie, applicable to the present case.
A division bench of Justices Atul Shreedharan and Siddharth Nandan initiated proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 on February 12. The court granted interim protection to petitioner Tarik Khan from coercive action and sought responses from officials Ravindra Kumar and Anurag Arya. The next hearing is scheduled for March 11.
The dispute stems from an incident on January 16 in Mohammadganj village, where a group of Muslims was detained and later released after offering namaz in a vacant house. The property owner, Reshma Khan, said she had permitted the prayers, which were conducted entirely within her private premises without encroaching on public land.
Petitioners relied on the earlier judgment in Maranatha Full Gospel Ministries vs State of UP, in which the court clarified that individuals may hold prayer meetings on private property without prior state approval, provided the gathering does not extend to public roads or government land or disturb public order. Permission is required only when events spill into public spaces.
Citing this precedent, Tarik Khan argued that the officials’ actions violated both the court’s directive and the constitutional right to practice religion. The bench noted that the earlier ruling appeared relevant and warranted examination under contempt jurisdiction.
The case highlights the balance between administrative authority and fundamental rights, particularly freedom of religion within private property. Legal observers say the forthcoming ruling could further clarify limits on official intervention in private religious gatherings and reinforce judicial safeguards for individual liberties while maintaining public order.
