'What's Divine To One Is Nuisance To Another': Madras High Court Bars 'Nama Sankeerthanam' In Houses Without Collector's Nod

The Madras High Court recently observed that Nama Sankeerthanam, devotees chanting the names of god in a religious gathering, cannot be permitted at a residential premises without the approval of the District Collector. Justice Anand Venkatesh thus restrained an individual from converting his residential house into a prayer hall and conducting nama sankeerthanam without the permission of the District Collector. The court added that if at all any prayer was to be conducted, it should be inside the house, without causing nuisance to anyone. “In the considered view of this Court, whenever a residential premises is attempted to be converted as a prayer hall, it requires the permission of the District Collector. This position of law has been reiterated in various orders passed by this Court,” the court observed. Though the individual claimed that the religious rights were protected under Article 25 and 26 of the Constitution and that the prayer was being conducted for peace of mind, the court noted that what was divine to him was causing nuisance to the neighbours. “The fifth respondent has flatly given his opinion about the Nama Sankeerthanam that is done in the subject premises. What sounds to the fifth respondent as divine, is causing nuisance to the petitioner,” the court said. The court was hearing the petition filed by Prakash Ramachandran, seeking directions to the District Collector, the Inspector of Police, and the Commissioner to take action against Global Organisation for Divinity. He had contended that the organization was functioning as a prayer hall without getting prior approval from the District Collector, and thus causing nuisance to the neighbours. The respondents argued that they had submitted an application to the District Collector and the same was pending. The court made it cleat that the respondents could not convert a residential premises into a prayer hall. The court added that by inviting huge crowd for the prayer, the streets could not be clogged with vehicles, causing further inconvenience to the road users. The court thus directed the Inspector to ensure that the respondents cause no nuisance and that the residential premises is not used as a prayer hall without necessary approval. Counsel for the Petitioner: Mr.S.Shivram Counsel for the Respondents: Mr.P.Ganesan Additional Government Pleader, Mr.R.Venkatesh Perumal Government Advocate (Crl.Side), Dr.T.Seenivasan Special Government Pleader, Ms.Saughanthika A.S, Harshini for Mr.K.Gowtham Kumar Case Title: Prakash Ramachandran v. The District Collector and Others Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 244 Case No: W.P.No.18711 of 2025Click Here To Read/Download The Judgment

'What's Divine To One Is Nuisance To Another': Madras High Court Bars 'Nama Sankeerthanam' In Houses Without Collector's Nod

Upasana Sajeev

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