Madurai, June 27: Holding that religious worship
without affecting public order is a fundamental right
guaranteed in the Constitution, the Madras High Court bench
in Madurai has allowed a church in Kanyakumari to conduct prayers,
after it "disagreed" with an order of a district official
directing the pastor to seek permission for it.
Neither the revenue officials, in their capacity as
Executive Magistrate, nor Police could insist on obtaining
their permission for conducting prayers inside a religous
institution in a peaceful manner, justice RS Ramanathan
observed disposing of a petition seeking to allow prayers.
He "disagreed" with the order of Kanyakumari Revenue
Divisional Officer asking the pastor of South India Assemblies
of God church in Kumarapuram Thoppur to obtain permission for
conducting prayers in order to avoid law and order problem.
The judge ordered the official not to interfere with the
prayers conducted in the church premises.
The court also directed the pastor to confine worship
within the church premises without causing any harm or
nuisance to outsiders.
The pastor was asked to seek permission in case of taking
out a procession and it would be open to the authorities to
grant permission for the same by imposing certain reasonable
conditions as per the high court guidelines in similar cases.
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, June 27, 2009, 16:16