New Delhi, May 2: The Allahabad High Court has denied permission for prayers to be held on public land in Sambhal district, Uttar Pradesh. The court stated that occupation of public land cannot be permitted under the guise of religious freedom.
A division bench comprising Justice Saral Srivastava and Justice Garima Prasad delivered this ruling while dismissing a writ petition filed by an individual named Aseen. Aseen claimed that officials were preventing him from offering prayers on a piece of land in Ikona village. He asserted ownership of the land based on a registered ‘gift deed’ dated June 16, 2023. Aseen argued that he and other worshippers were being unlawfully obstructed from praying in the area.
He further alleged that this obstruction was arbitrary and colluded with certain social elements, violating fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
However, the Uttar Pradesh government opposed the petition, stating that the land in question is recorded as ‘population land,’ designated for public use. The government also contended that Aseen failed to prove his claim of ownership.
It was noted that prayers on that land have traditionally only been held on special occasions, such as Eid. Now, the petitioner is attempting to initiate regular collective prayers by involving outsiders, which could disrupt communal harmony in the village.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the Allahabad High Court reached its decision. The court stated that revenue records indicate the land is public, and the petitioner’s claim of ownership based on the gift deed cannot alter government records.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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