Allahabad HC Dismisses Namaz Plea on UP Village Land

The Allahabad High Court dismissed a petition on Thursday seeking permission and police protection for regular congregational namaz on a plot of land in Ikona village, Gunnaur area of Sambhal district, Uttar Pradesh, ruling that the right to practice religion is not absolute and cannot override public order or the rights of others.

A division bench of Justices Saral Srivastava and Garima Prashad rejected the plea filed by local resident Aseen, who claimed ownership of the property through a gift deed dated June 2023. Aseen argued that authorities were preventing him from offering prayers, violating his fundamental rights under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, which guarantee freedom of religion.

The Uttar Pradesh government countered that the land is recorded as abadi land, designated for public use in revenue records, and that Aseen holds no legal title. Officials submitted that namaz had historically been offered at the site only on occasions like Eid, with no restrictions imposed on such established practices. They contended that Aseen sought to introduce regular large-scale prayers by inviting participants from inside and outside the village, potentially disrupting...