Supreme Court Stays MP Administration's Decision To Deny Permission For Christian Prayer Meet

A three-judge Bench of Justices B.R. Gavai, Satish Chandra Sharma, and Sandeep Mehta prima-facie found such revocation unjustified and allowed the petitioner to hold the prayer meeting today at 5 p.m.

“Prima facie, we find that the revocation. of the permission which was granted in favour of the petitioner of holding the prayer meeting is not justified. The permission which was granted vide order dated 22.03.2024 and revised on 05.04.2024 specified various conditions so as to safeguard the interest of all the stake-holders and also to ensure that no law and order situation would arise. In these circumstances, the revocation of permission, in our view, was not justified.,” the Court ordered.

It may be noted that initially, on 05.04.2024, the permission to hold the meeting from 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. was granted by the Officer of Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Bicholi Hapsi. Apart from that, the order also indicated the compliance of 27 conditions.

However, later, on 07.04.2024, the same was revoked, citing apprehensions of disruption of law and order situation. As per the petitioner's stance, the order was passed after various Hindu and other social organizations complained to the competent authority in this regard.

When the order was challenged before the High Court, the same was dismissed by Justice Subodh Abhyankar, holding:

“This Court is of the considered opinion that it might be true that the intention of the petitioner to convene such meeting must be purely religious in nature, however, the concern raised by the respondents can also not be said to be unfounded, looking to the various objections they have received from other religious organizations. In such circumstances, the possibility of apprehension raised by the respondents of disruption of law and order situation can also not be said to be unsubstantiated.”

However, the Supreme Court today allowed the aforesaid meeting while making it clear that the earlier conditions as imposed by the competent authority shall be adhered to.

“It is needless to say that the petitioner will be entitled to hold the prayer meeting at 5:00 pe today, i.e., 10 April, 2024, however, the same shall be subject to the petitioner's strictly complying with the directions/conditions stated in order dated 22.03.2024 and 05.03.2024.”

Before parting, the Court directed the Registry to communicate this order forthwith to the High Court's Registrar (Judl.), who, in turn, shall communicate the same to the Collector, Indore.

Advocates for Petitioner: Senior Advocate Mr. Santosh Paul, Advocates Lija Merin John, Sanbha Ruanong, Ajay Justice Shaw and Advocate-On-Record Aakarsh Kanra. 

Case Title: SURESH CARLETONS vs. STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH., Diary No.- 16136 - 2024