Administrative and police officials should resign or seek transfer

Allahabad High Court takes a strict stance on limiting the number of people offering namaz in Sambhal (Uttar Pradesh)

Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) – The Allahabad High Court has taken a strong stance against the local administration’s decision to limit the number of people offering prayers during Ramzan in Sambhal. The court observed that the State’s duty is to ensure that law and order is maintained at all times. If local officials, including the Superintendent of Police or District Magistrate, feel incapable of managing law and order and therefore wish to restrict the number of worshippers, they should resign or seek transfer. These observations came during the hearing of a writ petition filed by Munazir Khan, who claimed he was being prevented from offering prayers at Gata No. 291 in Sambhal.

The court emphasised that the State must guarantee every community the ability to peacefully perform worship at designated places. The petitioner stated that a mosque exists on the land, and worshippers traditionally gather there during Ramzan. However, the local administration had restricted attendance to twenty people, citing potential law and order concerns during the holy month.

The State argued that the land, according to revenue records, is registered in the names of Mohan Singh and Bhooraj Singh, sons of Sukhi Singh, and no photographs of the alleged mosque or worship site were presented in court.

Rejecting the State’s contention, the division bench of Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Siddharth Nandan said that apprehensions about law and order cannot justify curtailing religious worship. The bench added that if officials feel they are not competent to enforce the law, they should resign or request transfer from Sambhal. The court has scheduled the next hearing for 16 March.

Editorial Perspective

Administrative and police officials cannot use law and order concerns as a pretext to limit religious practices; failure to maintain law and order should lead to resignation or transfer.