The court issues a contempt notice to the SSP and District Magistrate after several people were booked for offering congregational namaz inside a house
NEW DELHI/PRAYAGRAJ — The Allahabad High Court has sharply criticised senior officials in Bareilly after Uttar Pradesh Police registered a case against men who offered Friday prayers inside a private home.
The court last week issued a contempt notice to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and the District Magistrate (DM) of Bareilly, asking them to respond to the action taken by the police.
The judges observed that offering congregational prayers within one’s own house or private property does not require prior permission from the government.
One of the key observations of the court was: “Why should anyone seek permission from the State to offer namaz on their own land or inside their own home?”
The controversy began on 16 January 2026 in Mohammadganj, Bareilly, where a group of people gathered inside a private residence to offer Friday prayers.
A video of the prayers was circulated on social media. Soon after, police registered a case against those present, alleging breach of peace. Some individuals were briefly detained before being released.
The police action drew criticism from across the country. Many questioned whether citizens could be booked for offering prayers inside a private property.
A local resident said at the time, “They were not blocking any road. It was inside a house. How can that disturb public order?”
Tariq Khan filed a petition before the high court, challenging the FIR and the detention of the worshippers.
In his plea, he argued that the police acted illegally and violated the constitutional rights of the citizens involved.
The petition stated, “The State has attempted to crush the fundamental rights of citizens by preventing them from offering prayers inside their private premises.”
Khan also claimed that the detentions were unlawful and that no law prohibits offering collective prayers inside one’s own property.
The high court noted that it had earlier passed a similar order in a case involving Christian prayer meetings. In that ruling, the court had clearly stated that holding a religious gathering within private premises is not illegal and does not require prior permission.
The bench observed that the same principle applies to Friday prayers.
The court viewed the police action as a serious matter and treated it as possible contempt, stating that the earlier judicial direction appears to have been ignored.
The next hearing is scheduled for 11 March, when the SSP and DM have been directed to present their response.
The court’s order has brought relief to those affected.
One of the men named in the FIR said, “We only prayed in a house. We did not harm anyone. The court has restored our faith in justice.”
Community members also said the decision provides clarity ahead of Ramadan, when many families host Taraweeh (special night prayers) inside their homes.
A Bareilly resident said, “Last year, even private Taraweeh gatherings faced objections. Now the court has made it clear that prayer inside one’s own house is not a crime.”
The case has sparked debate about the limits of police power and the right to freedom of religion under the Constitution.
A senior advocate in Prayagraj commented, “The Constitution protects the right to practise and profess religion. If the activity is inside private premises and does not disturb public order, police action must be carefully justified.”
For now, all eyes are on the 11 March hearing, where senior district officials will have to explain why action was taken against citizens praying inside their own homes.
As one observer put it, “The question is simple — can people pray peacefully in their own house without fear? The court seems to have answered that clearly.”
