The Allahabad High Court recently dismissed a man’s petition seeking directions to the Sambhal district magistrate to allow him to offer namaz on what he claimed was his private land.

The Uttar Pradesh government, however, claimed that the land was for public use and that the man, Aseen, did not hold the legal title for it.

A bench comprising Justices Saral Srivastava and Garima Prashad said in its judgement on April 6 that the right to practice religion is subject to public order and is not unlimited, adding that it cannot be exercised in a manner that interferes with the rights of others.

In his petition, Aseen sought directions to the district magistrate to provide security and permission to offer prayers at what he claimed were his private premises at Ikona village in Sambhal’s Gunnaur, The Indian Express reported.

The petitioner claimed ownership of the land based on a gift deed from June 2023 and argued that the authorities were restraining prayers and violating his fundamental right to freedom of religion.

During the proceedings, Aseem’s counsel referred to four orders issued by the court on separate petitions between January and March that sought similar relief, The Indian Express reported.

These orders had held that no permission was needed for holding a religious prayer meeting on private property in Uttar Pradesh.

On the other hand, the...

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