Allahabad HC asks Budaun administration not to interfere with prayers offered in a private property

The Allahabad High Court has directed the district administration in Uttar Pradesh's Budaun not to interfere with prayers being offered in a mosque located inside a private property.

While issuing the directive, a bench of Justice Shekhar B Saraf and Justice Vivek Saran agreed with a view taken recently by a coordinate bench that there is no prohibition in law against conducting a religious prayer meeting in private premises.

"Upon perusal of the said judgment, we are in consensus with the view taken by the coordinate bench and accordingly direct the respondent-authorities not to interfere in any manner with regard to the prayers being offered within the premises of the petitioners," the court said.


The order was passed on a petition filed by Alisher of Badaun seeking directions to restrain authorities from causing any interference or obstruction in the peaceful offering of namaz by a petitioner, his family members and other members of the Muslim community in the mosque -- Waqf Masjid Raza -- existing in a portion of his property.

The counsel representing the petitioners earlier cited the judgment delivered by a division bench on January 27 in the case of Maranatha Full Gospel Ministries vs. State of Uttar Pradesh and others.

While disposing of the writ petition, the court on February 25 granted relief to the petitioner on the basis of the January 27 ruling and also clarified that if any law and order situation arises on the public road or public property, the police may take adequate action in accordance with law.