‘Cannot turn a house into prayer meeting hall without permission, even if loudspeakers are not used’ : Madras HC

Madras High Court’s decision on the petition of a Christian priest

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) – The Madras High Court has once again clarified that no house can be turned into a prayer meeting hall without the permission from the Government. The Court gave this decision in the case of Pastor L. Joseph Wilson of Thiruvarur District. Earlier, the Court had given a similar decision in a similar case in Kanyakumari. (Action should be taken against the pastor for organizing a prayer meeting at home without permission and he should be sent to jail. Such prayers are an attempt to convert Hindus – Editor).

What is the matter ?

In 2024, District Collector of Thiruvarur District ordered Pastor L. Joseph Wilson from Kodavasal village not to turn his house into a prayer meeting hall. Wilson filed a petition in the Court against this. He said that he was running a trust called ‘Word of God Ministry Trust’. After purchasing the property in 2023, prayer meetings have been organized there regularly. When permission was sought for the construction of a church here, the District Collector rejected it.

The Court, while hearing the petition, said that the petitioner has assured in the affidavit submitted that he will pray silently at home without using loudspeakers; but not using loudspeakers will not solve this problem. To organize a prayer meeting at home, it is necessary to obtain permission from the relevant authority as per the relevant rules.