Overview
- A division bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Siddharth Nandan issued the ruling on January 27 while disposing of two writ petitions.
- The court specified that events confined to private property need no prior approval, but any spillover to roads or public land requires police intimation and statutory permissions.
- Uttar Pradesh authorities told the court there is no legal requirement to seek permission for private religious gatherings.
- The bench recorded the state's duty to safeguard the petitioners' life, property and rights, with the manner of protection left to police discretion.
- The petitions were filed by Maranatha Full Gospel Ministries and Emmanuel Grace Charitable Trust after administrative inaction, and the verdict has since been welcomed by Christian and Muslim groups.