In a sharp message to the district administration in Sambhal, the Allahabad High Court declared that authorities cannot impose arbitrary limits on the number of people offering prayers inside a mosque. If officials claim they cannot maintain law and order, the Court remarked, they should consider stepping aside from their posts.
A Bench comprising Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Siddharth Nandan made the observation while hearing a plea alleging that local authorities had restricted Muslim worshippers from attending prayers at a mosque in Sambhal during the holy month of Ramzan.
The judges emphasized that the State carries a constitutional responsibility to ensure that all communities can perform religious worship peacefully at designated places. According to the Court, prayers conducted within a place of worship or on private property do not require prior approval from the government. Official permission becomes necessary only when religious gatherings spill over onto public land or involve public spaces.
The Bench took strong exception to the administration’s decision to allow only 20 worshippers at the mosque, a restriction justified by the authorities on the grounds of a “perceived law and order situation.” The Court rejected this reasoning outright.
If district officials—including the Superintendent of Police and the Collector—believe they cannot manage the situation without restricting worshippers, the Court said they should either resign or seek a transfer from Sambhal rather than limit fundamental freedoms.
The petition before the Court claims that Muslims were being prevented from offering prayers at a mosque located on land identified as Gata No. 291. During the hearing, the State also indicated that there is an ongoing dispute regarding the ownership of the land on which the mosque is said to stand.
The Court noted that the petitioner had not yet submitted photographs of the mosque to support the claim. It has therefore directed the petitioner to place on record photographs and relevant revenue documents establishing the site where the prayers are conducted.
The State has been asked to file its response to the allegations. The matter is scheduled to be taken up again on March 16.
