Today, On 24th October, The Madras High Court has quashed an FIR against devotees who installed an LED screen to broadcast the Ayodhya Ram Mandir ceremony. Justice N. Satish Kumar said, “Watching a religious function is NOT an Unlawful assembly.
The Madras High Court quashed an FIR filed against a group of devotees who had installed an LED screen to broadcast the Ayodhya Ram Mandir ceremony.
Justice N. Satish Kumar, delivering the order, observed,
“Watching a religious function is not an unlawful assembly, Continuing such cases is an abuse of law.”
The court highlighted that the devotees were exercising their fundamental right to witness a religious event peacefully.
The judgment underlines that legal action should not target harmless religious gatherings, and authorities must avoid misusing the law against citizens engaging in faith-based activities.
Legal experts say this ruling reinforces citizens’ rights to freedom of religion and peaceful assembly, while cautioning against unnecessary FIRs that could intimidate religious communities.
The quashing of this FIR has been widely welcomed by devotees and social groups, marking a win for religious freedom and lawful expression in India.
The complainant alleged that the installation of an LED screen in front of the Kamarajapuram Ram Temple Bhajanai Math to broadcast the Ayodhya Ram Mandir ceremony led to traffic congestion and public disturbance.
Consequently, a criminal case was initiated under Sections 143, 341, and 290 of the IPC. Following the investigation, a charge sheet was submitted against the petitioners, and the Magistrate took cognizance of the matter.
The Bench acknowledged the allegations that the petitioners had installed the LED screen in a public area, thereby committing the aforementioned offences. It noted that events related to different religions often provoke grievances from certain groups.
The Bench clarified that when exercising its powers under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C. (analogous to Section 528 BNSS), the Court should proceed with caution.
However, if the Court determines that the evidence compiled by the prosecution, when viewed collectively, does not constitute an offence, compelling the parties to face trial would be pointless and infringe upon the rights of those involved.
The evidence presented did not demonstrate that the accused had used any criminal force to engage in mischief, crime, or any unlawful act, nor did it indicate any attempt to take possession of property or assert incorporeal rights over others’ possessions.
It held,
“Considering the above facts, this Court is of the view that the mere launching of an FIR by the prosecution itself is not sufficient to reach the conclusion that the offences are made out. The materials collected by the prosecution do not support the case; therefore, continuing the prosecution on such shaky grounds or without any materials would amount to a clear abuse of the process of law,”
In light of these considerations, the Bench granted the criminal petition and quashed the proceedings against the petitioners.
The rights to freedom of religion and peaceful assembly are fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India.
- Freedom of Religion (Articles 25–28, Part III, Constitution of India)
- Article 25: Guarantees all persons the freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion, subject to public order, morality, and health.
- Article 26: Provides every religious denomination the right to manage its own affairs in matters of religion, establish and maintain institutions, and own property.
- Article 27: Prohibits forced payment of taxes for the promotion of any particular religion.
- Article 28: Ensures no religious instruction in certain educational institutions maintained by the State.
- Freedom of Peaceful Assembly (Article 19(1)(b), Constitution of India)
- Guarantees citizens the right to assemble peacefully without arms.
- This right is subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of sovereignty, public order, or morality.
An unlawful assembly, under Section 141 of the Indian Penal Code, refers to a gathering of five or more persons with the intent to commit an offense, cause mischief, resist the law, or intimidate others. Peaceful gatherings without criminal intent do not fall under this definition.
In a recent case, the Madras High Court clarified that devotees who installed an LED screen to watch the Ayodhya Ram Mandir ceremony were not an unlawful assembly, as their gathering was entirely peaceful and lawful, reinforcing citizens’ right to attend religious events without fear of legal harassment.
Advocate B. Sruthi represented the petitioners, while Public Prosecutor R. Vinothraja represented the respondent.
Case Title: Sureshbabu v. The State (Case No.: Crl.O.P.No.27515 of 2025)
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