Overview
- The court initiated contempt proceedings against the district magistrate and the police chief for allegedly stopping prayers inside a Mohammadganj residence.
- Justices Atul Shreedharan and Siddharth Nandan ordered that no coercive steps be taken against petitioner Tarik Khan and sought responses from the officials by the next hearing.
- The bench relied on its Maranatha judgment holding that no state permission is required for religious observance confined to private property.
- The case follows a January 16 police intervention in which individuals praying in the house were detained and some were challaned under Section 151 of the CrPC.
- Tensions have been reported locally over resumed Friday prayers, while the SSP said police do not interfere with religious practices and are focused on preventing covert conversion of homes into public places of worship without due process.