Madras High Court: House Cannot Be Used as Prayer Hall Without Permission

The Madras High Court has held that residential properties cannot be converted into prayer halls without approval from the concerned authorities. 

Citing T. Wilson v. District Collector, Kanyakumari Dist. and Ors., the court held that the right to religious practice is not absolute, and converting a home into a public worship space mandates regulatory approval. 

Dismissing Pastor L. Joseph Wilson’s plea against a tahsildar’s closure notice, the bench found that a mere assurance to avoid loudspeakers and microphones is insufficient. 

The court ordered that the pastor be allowed back on the property only on the condition that he would not use it as a prayer hall without getting the necessary permissions.