Madras High Court Allows Hindu Man to Use Public Ground in Christian-Majority Village

The Madras High Court criticised a Tahsildar’s refusal to permit a Hindu resident to hold Annadhanam (distribution of food) on a local public ground in a Christian-majority village. 

Justice GR Swaminathan held that public land cannot be restricted to any one religious group, and excluding someone only on religious grounds violates Article 15 of the Constitution. 

It emphasised secularism and inter-religious harmony, noting that a public ground must be open to all communities or none. 

The Court set aside the Tahsildar's refusal to allow the Annadhanam on the grounds.

[K Rajamani V Joint Commr, HRCE]