HC Orders Sambhal Officials Resign or Transfer
On March 14, a bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Siddharth Nandan at the Allahabad High Court set aside an Uttar Pradesh government order limiting worshippers in a mosque during Ramadan. The court ruled that maintaining law and order is solely the state's responsibility rather than grounds for restricting prayer on private property or requiring permission from authorities, explicitly directing officials to resign if they cannot enforce these principles effectively while noting Munazir Khan alleged he was prevented from praying at Gata No 291 in Sambhal district.
Key Points
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1The Allahabad High Court rejected an Uttar Pradesh government order limiting worshippers at a mosque in Sambhal district during Ramzan.
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2A bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Siddharth Nandan ruled that maintaining law and order is the state's responsibility, not individual authorities' prerogative to restrict prayer on private property.
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3The court directed officials who cannot enforce laws regarding mosque restrictions either resign or seek a transfer from their positions.
Developments
The Allahabad High Court rejected a Uttar Pradesh government restriction limiting mosque prayers to 20 people in Sambhal due to alleged security concerns during Ramzan and ordered that no state permission is needed if the property belongs privately or on public land. The court directed Superintendent of Police Munazir Khan's collector, who issued such restrictions without legal basis regarding private worship rights, either resign from their posts immediately for incompetence seeking transfer
The Allahabad High Court rejected Uttar Pradesh's restriction on mosque worshippers during Ramzan and ordered that any inability to maintain law and order should lead to resignation or transfer of officials. The court emphasized the state duty to ensure peaceful worship, noting such restrictions are only permissible when activities occur outside designated premises without proper permission.