Daijiworld Media Network – Chennai

Chennai, June 24: The Madras High Court on Monday made it unequivocally clear that a residential house cannot be converted into a prayer hall or a place of worship without prior approval from the concerned authorities. The observation came while hearing a petition filed by Pastor L Joseph Wilson, who approached the court following a police complaint lodged against him for conducting regular prayer gatherings in a residential property.

Presiding over the matter, Justice N Anand Venkatesh ruled that holding peaceful prayer meetings—even without loudspeakers—does not exempt anyone from obtaining statutory permissions. The court firmly rejected the pastor’s assurance that he would refrain from using microphones or sound amplification systems, stressing that such undertakings cannot override legal and procedural requirements.

Pastor Wilson, who runs the 'Word of God Ministries Trust' since 2007, had submitted that he purchased a residential property in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvarur district in 2023 and had been conducting regular prayer meetings at the location. However, police investigations revealed that an earlier application made by the pastor to construct a church was declined by the district collector, and the proposed plan was not approved.

The court reiterated that use of a house for religious congregation must comply with zoning norms and public safety regulations. “A house is meant for residential use. Without converting its status or obtaining special permission, its use for religious assembly can disturb peace in the locality,” the court noted.

The judgment comes as a significant reminder of the importance of legal compliance in matters of religious gathering and underscores the necessity of maintaining civic order and administrative transparency in the use of public and private spaces for religious purposes.