J. DEVADHASON Vs. DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The case of the petitioner herein is that he is a designated Priest of "South India Assemblies of God", Berachah A.G.Church, affiliated with Southern District Council, registered vide Registration No.2701 under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860. According to him, being a Priest he has been involved in religious preaching and in conducting prayers for promotion of his faith. The act of worshiping and prayer has been conducted in the premises owned by the petitioner and this activity has been going on for the last forty years without any interference or interruption from any of the neighbours and so far, no complaint has been lodged against the religious activities of the petitioner.

(2.) According to the petitioner, he had proposed to construct a building in Survey No.257/18 situated at Ganapathipuram Town Panchayat, Neendakarai "Aa" Village, Agastheeswaram Taluk, Kanyakumari District, for which he has applied for grant of permission to the first respondent in 2018. However, the first respondent has not passed any orders in response to his application. On the other hand, he was issued with the proceedings of the first respondent dated 08.10.2020 rejecting the permission sought by the petitioner on the ground that there would be a law and order problem affecting public peace.

(3.) The above order rejecting the permission sought by the petitioner is the subject matter of challenge in the Writ Petition. According to the impugned order, the first respondent appears to have obtained report from the Sub Collector and the Superintendent of Police and the reports have concluded that granting permission to the petitioner to conduct prayers towards promotion of his faith would affect public peace and would also pose law and order problem to the civil and police administration.