The Chhattisgarh High Court has ruled that individuals do not require prior permission from authorities to organise religious prayer meetings at their homes, provided no law is violated. The petitioners had been organising prayer meetings in a hall on the first floor of their residence since 2016. (Chhattisgarh High Court website)
A single bench of Justice Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi made the observation while quashing notices issued by police to two petitioners and directed authorities not to interfere with their civil rights.
According to the order delivered on March 24, the case relates to two relatives from Godhna village in Janjgir-Champa district. The petitioners had been organising prayer meetings in a hall on the first floor of their residence since 2016.
They submitted that despite no disturbance or unlawful activity during these gatherings, local police had issued notices under Section 94 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, to prevent them from holding such meetings. Notices dated October 18, 2025, November 22, 2025, and February 1, 2026, were cited in the petition.
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The petitioners further stated that the Gram Panchayat of Godhna had initially granted a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the gatherings but later withdrew it allegedly under pressure. They sought quashing of the notices and protection from police interference in conducting prayer meetings at their residence.
Opposing the plea, deputy government advocate Shobhit Mishra argued that criminal cases had been registered against the petitioners in the past and that they had been jailed. He also contended that they had not obtained prior permission from competent authorities, prompting police action.
The high court, however, held that there is no legal requirement for prior permission to conduct prayer meetings in a private dwelling if no law is violated.
“The petitioners are registered owners of the land where they have been organising prayer meetings since 2016. There is no law restraining any person from holding prayer meetings in their dwelling house,” the court noted.
It added that authorities are free to act under relevant laws in case of noise pollution or any law and order issue, but cannot interfere otherwise.
“The respondents/police authorities are directed not to interfere with the civil rights of the petitioners and shall not harass them under the guise of enquiry,” the court said while quashing the notices.