Allahabad High Court dismisses plea for regular namaz on claimed private land in Sambhal

Allahabad High Court dismisses plea for regular namaz on claimed private land in Sambhal
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The Allahabad High Court has rejected a writ petition seeking permission and police protection for offering regular Namaz at a property in Sambhal district’s Ikona village, Muslim Mirror reported.

A Division Bench comprising Justices Saral Srivastava and Garima Prashad ruled that the fundamental right to practise religion under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution does not extend to converting private premises into an “unregulated congregational space.”

The Uttar Pradesh government strongly opposed the plea, stating that the land is recorded as Abadi land under Category Shreni-6(2), meant for public use.

Officials clarified that Namaz had traditionally been offered only on special occasions like Eid, and the petitioner was attempting to introduce regular congregational prayers involving outsiders, which could disturb communal harmony.

The court observed that while private property may be used for personal and limited religious activity, regular or organised congregational prayers involving a larger group fall outside constitutional protection and remain subject to regulatory control.

The dismissal represents restrictive measures with regards to Muslim’s free practice of religious observances in India under Nationalistic Hindutva agenda.