By: The Wire Staff Published in: *The Wire* Date: February 2, 2026 Sorce: https://thewire.in/law/no-need-to-take-permission-for-holding-religious-prayer-meeting-in-private-property-allahabad-hc On January 18, the Uttar Pradesh police had detained 12 individuals from a village in Bareilly district for allegedly performing namaz inside an unoccupied house without official approval. *New Delhi:* While hearing two similar petitions moved by Maranatha Full Gospel Ministries and Emmanuel Grace Charitable Trust, the Allahabad high court recently ruled there is no need to take permission for holding a religious prayer meeting in a private property in Uttar Pradesh.
A division bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Justice Siddharth Nandan gave the verdict after it took into account the submission by the Uttar Pradesh government at present no such requirement of seeking permission exists in law, reported *Bar and Bench* <https://www.barandbench.com/news/state-permission-not-needed-for-holding-religious-prayer-meeting-in-private-premises-allahabad-high-court> . “Instructions have come from the State. Paragraph no.18 is relevant. It is very clearly stated that there is no prohibition on the petitioner to conduct religious prayer meeting within his private premises. It is also stated that equal protection of the law is accorded by instrumentalities of the State to all citizens across the State without discrimination with regard to religion or any other consideration,” said the court. In its ruling, the court said that no permission was required under the law to pursue an act which is part of the fundamental right under Article 25 of the Constitution of India. It clarified that the same is subject to the fact that religious prayer meeting is carried out only within the private premises of the property. “However, if any occasion arises where it has to spill over the public road or public property, in such a situation, this Court mandates that the petitioner shall at least intimate the police and take any requisite permission under the law, if so require,” said the court. On January 18, the Uttar Pradesh police had detained 12 individuals <https://thewire.in/communalism/bareilly-12-detained-for-offering-friday-namaz-without-permission-in-an-empty-building> from a village in Bareilly district for allegedly performing namaz inside an unoccupied house without official approval. According to the police, the preliminary investigations revealed that the property belonged to a person named Hanif and was used temporarily for Friday prayers on January 16. They added that those present failed to provide any written approval or valid paperwork when questioned.
