While deciding the issue pertaining to the right claimed by the writ petitioner to conduct prayer meetings in the subject premises, which was asserted by the petitioner to be a right which is inherent to Christianity and consequently a right guaranteed under the Constitution for practicing his religion, Hon’ble Justice N. Anand Venkatesh penning a judgment *dismissing the writ petition* on

[4/29, 20:01] Sekarreporter1: While deciding the issue pertaining to the right claimed by the writ petitioner to conduct prayer meetings in the subject
premises, which was asserted by the petitioner to be a right which is inherent to Christianity and consequently a right guaranteed under the Constitution for practicing his religion, Hon’ble Justice N. Anand Venkatesh penning a judgment *dismissing the writ petition* onú 29.04.2021in the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court held that:-

*”Even a religious right cannot be claimed to be absolute”* The
moment the exercise of such a right affects the rights of others, it must be
subjected to reasonable restriction. The rights enjoyed by the citizens,
including the fundamental rights, must co~exist in harmony. In the present
case, the right of worship that is claimed by the petitioner directly impacts
the rights of his neighbours, as explained in the report of the District
Collector. *Once the prayer meeting assumes such larger proportions resulting in public worship, attended by huge crowds, the very nature of the building changes, and it has to be construed as a prayer hall entertaining public worship.*
Consequently, the same would require obtaining necessary permission
under the relevant rules

Hon’ble Justice Anand Venkatesh also emphasised on the Biblical verses fifth and sixth verses of the sixth chapter of the Gospel of
Matthew and part of the Sermon on the Mount that the Bible does not profess a
prayer to be done or conducted in a manner that would warrant gathering of people and usage of amplifiers of any sort in the process, the latter owing
to the period during which the text was written.

*Any sort of prayer* *contemplated by the religion is*
*directed only towards the father, and it is a very personal and profound*
*connect between the father* *and the one who is praying.* Infact, prayer, across
religions and beliefs is considered to be a *profound and private bond between*
*the person praying and the* *divine.* It can certainly not be thrown out on
stage for public display, and one done that way cannot be construed as prayer
in its purest forms.
[4/29, 20:01] Sekarreporter1: For Petitioner: J. Maria Roseline
For Respondents: M. SRICHARAN RANGARAJAN ADDL. ADVOCATE GENERAL assisted by KP Narayanakumar, SGP

You may also like...