SC: No Road Blocks for Religious Activities

The Supreme Court of India, in ongoing hearings before a nine-judge Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, observed that roads cannot be blocked for religious activities and that religious institutions must operate under structured norms to avoid anarchy. The remarks came during proceedings in New Delhi on the scope of religious freedom, women's entry into places of worship, and the rights of religious denominations, with the Sabarimala temple case in Kerala at the center.

The bench, which includes Justices B.V. Nagarathna, M.M. Sundresh, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Aravind Kumar, Augustine George Masih, Prasanna B. Varale, R. Mahadevan, and Joymalya Bagchi, emphasized that while denominations have autonomy in worship under Article 26 of the Constitution, this does not extend to disrupting public order or secular activities. Justice Nagarathna noted that religious events, such as temple festivals with chariot processions, cannot block roads, as those are secular matters where the state may regulate. "You do your religious activity, but not by blocking the roads. The state can always step in to regulate," she said.

Justice Amanullah reinforced the need for management...