The Chhattisgarh High Court held that individuals cannot be stopped from conducting prayer meetings in their own homes as lawful property owners. “There is no such law restraining any persons… no need to get prior permission,” the Court affirmed, emphasizing legality and civil rights protection.
The Chhattisgarh High Court held that nothing in law prevents an individual from holding prayer meetings inside their own home .
Justice Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi considered a petition challenging police notices that directed two Janjgir-Champa residents to stop organising Christian prayer meetings in their house.
The Court observed that, as the petitioners are the registered owners of the property, they cannot be stopped from conducting prayer gatherings.
The Court said,
“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,”
The bench added that authorities retain the power to act under applicable laws if noise pollution occurs or if a law-and-order situation develops.
Accordingly, the Court instructed the police not to interfere with the petitioners’ civil rights or harass them under the pretext of any enquiry.
The petitioners had explained that they built a hall on the house’s first floor to hold prayer meetings. They complained that the police were issuing harassing notices and that the Gram Panchayat had later revoked a previously issued No Objection Certificate (NOC).
The State responded that criminal proceedings were pending against the petitioners and that they had not sought prior permission for the prayer meetings; the State counsel requested time to file a formal reply.
The Court, however, regarded the grievance as narrow and refused the State’s request for time to respond.
Finding no legal requirement to seek such permission, the Court set aside the police notices.
Advocate Pritam Singh appeared for the petitioners.
Deputy Government Advocate Shobhit Mishra represented the State.
Case Title: Badri Prasad Sahu and Another v State of Chhattisgarh and Others