New Delhi, Nov 17 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea challenging the prohibition on civilians offering prayers at a mosque situated within Army quarters in Chennai, citing security concerns.
A Bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta refused to interfere with the April 2025 judgment of a Division Bench of the Madras High Court which had upheld the Army’s administrative decision restricting outsider entry into the premises.
“There are security issues and so many things. How can we allow that?” the Bench told the petitioner’s counsel while declining relief.
The petitioner argued that access to Masjid-E-Aalishaan for civilians had been restricted only during the COVID-19 pandemic and that from 1877 to 2022, no security issues had ever arisen.
The court, however, was not persuaded and dismissed the Special Leave Petition.
Earlier, the petitioner had contended before the High Court that the Army authorities were not allowing civilians to offer prayers at the mosque located inside the military quarters.
The High Court had noted that as per the Cantonment Land Administration Rules, 1937, the mosque was primarily meant for use by men connected to the unit and that the decision to restrict outsiders was an administrative prerogative.
The Station Commander had verbally rejected the petitioner’s request in June 2021, stating that access was strictly restricted to unit members.
The Division Bench had held, “It is the prerogative of the administration to take a decision whether to permit outsiders or not. Relying on the Cantonment Land Administration Rules, 1937, the authority has taken a decision not to permit outsiders.”
