No permission needed for bhajan, reciting Rama Nama in private halls: Government tells Madras High Court [Read Order]

Chennai: Singing bhajans, uttering Rama Nama or conducting Annadhanams (donating food) in private halls is not prohibited and would not require police permission, the Tamil Nadu government apprised the High Court on Monday. 

Justices N Anand Venkatesh also asked the organisers of such events to do so, in a responsible and pious manner without giving causing any law & order issues. 

The above stand taken by the State Government and the Police makes it quite clear that conducting the function considering the auspicious occasion, singing Bhajans / uttering Rama Nama / Annadhanams is not per se prohibited or restricted and it must be borne in mind that all this will be done in a responsible and pious manner today without giving rise to any law and order problem. No misinformation or wrong information must be permitted to be spread and this will be kept in mind by all parties concerned. Ultimately everyone concerned must keep in mind that Bhakti towards God is only for peace and happiness and not to disturb the equilibrium prevailing in the society. 

The Court was hearing a petition by one L Ganapathy challenging an order of the Assistant Commissioner that rejected permission sought for bhajan and annadanam on January 22 at a marriage hall.

When the matter was taken up for hearing, the Additional Public submitted that permission for bhajan and annadanam had been granted subsequently and the copy of the proceedings was also placed before this Court.

Since many such functions are going to be held, this Court expressed to know the governments as well as the Polices stand with regard to granting permission to conduct such functions / annadhanams.

The State then submitted the following before the Court: 

(a)The functions / Bhajans / Annadhanams that are conducted in private enclosures like mandapams, private temples and any other private place etc., does not require any permission from the police. It will be left open to the organizers to make arrangements for live streaming of the Ram mandir inauguration at Ayodhya. 

(b)If theres a possibility of spill over to the place which is accessed by the general public, the same has to be informed to the police in order to enable the police to take necessary measures to keep the situation under control and to ensure that no disturbance is caused to the free movement of the general public. 

(c)If such functions are planned to be conducted within temples, which are within the control of the HR & CE Department, the concerned official belonging to the 

Department must be informed about the same beforehand, and the permission will be granted subject to reasonable conditions imposed by the Department, and 
(d) Wherever, considering the local situation, the police are of the opinion that the area is sensitive, it will be left open to the police to impose such restrictions and to ensure that the function does not lead to any unnecessary law and order problem. 

Noting this, the Bench proceeded to dispose of the plea.

[Read Order]