Police cannot deny a religious procession solely on apprehension of public inconvenience.

The petitioner challenged the third respondent’s order dated 11 October 2026 refusing permission for a Vel Yatra proposed for 18 October 2026.

He had submitted representations seeking permission to conduct the procession.

The State submitted that the proposed route was approximately five kilometres and could cause public inconvenience and law-and-order concerns; it suggested instead a procession of approximately one kilometre, from Alanganallur Murugan Temple to Alanganallur 15B Mettupatti village.

The petitioner accepted that suggestion.

1. Whether the refusal of permission for the proposed religious procession was justified by the stated concerns of public inconvenience and law and order

2. Whether the procession could be permitted on a shorter route, subject to reasonable conditions for public safety and order

Article 25 of the Constitution protects the right to practise and profess religion, subject to public order, morality, health and the other provisions of Part III.

Religious processions on public roads may be subject to reasonable regulation by competent authorities for public order, traffic management and public safety.

Such regulatory power must be exercised on relevant grounds and not arbitrarily to deny a procession merely because of an apprehension of public inconvenience.

The Court considered the State’s concerns about the proposed five-kilometre route but noted that the State had suggested a shorter route and the petitioner had accepted it.

Given the approaching procession date, the Court concluded that the procession could proceed on that route with police regulation and appropriate conditions, rather than allowing the impugned refusal to stand.

It directed the police to give the petitioner a reasonable opportunity to provide details of the route, timing, duration and arrangements, and to regulate the procession in accordance with law.

The petitioner was required to comply with the conditions imposed and conduct the procession peacefully; the exercise was to be completed before 18 October 2026.