TN: High Court OK's pastor holding prayers

Strongly opposing to a district official's order, the Madras High Court on Saturday, permitted a pastor to hold worship at his church in Tamil Nadu.

Pastor Sangai N Gopan of South India Assemblies of God was asked to obtain permission before holding prayers at his church in Kumparapuram, Kanniyakumari district.

The Revenue Divisional Officer in that district made the demand. According to sources, the district officer asked for a permission to avoid a law and order problem.

This, however, dint go well with the pastor who filed a petition in the Madras High Court. During a hearing by the Justice R S Ramanathan bench, the court maintained that conducting religious worship sans hampering public order is a fundamental right of a citizen.

The judge, disagreeing with the charges of the district authorities, declared that no religious institution is forced to obtain prior permission of police or Revenue officials before conducting religious worship.