Right To Practise Religion Cannot Be Denied On Mere Apprehension Of Law & Order: Madras HC Allows Construction Of Bible Study Centre

The Madras High Court ruled that a mere apprehension of harm is not sufficient to curtail religious rights under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution. The case involved a petition seeking restrictions on religious practices based on the potential for unrest. The court upheld that religious freedoms cannot be restricted solely on the basis of speculation about possible disruptions. The ruling reinforced the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion, emphasizing that any curtailment of such rights must be based on concrete, not hypothetical, threats.