Allahabad High Court Directs Commissioner To Decide On Durga Puja Petition At SHUATS

The Allahabad High Court has directed the Commissioner to take a decision within three days on a petition seeking a ban on religious activities, including Durga Puja, inside the Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHUATS) campus in Prayagraj.

A division bench of Justice Saral Srivastava and Justice Amitabh Kumar Rai passed the order while hearing the petition filed by the university.

The petitioner university stated that it had submitted a representation to the Commissioner on September 9, 2025, requesting protection of its minority character and autonomy. The plea sought to prohibit religious activities on campus.

According to the petition, former employees allegedly forced entry into the administrative office during Ganesh Chaturthi, installed an idol of Lord Ganesha, and began worship. The university expressed apprehension that similar incidents could occur during the ongoing Navratri celebrations.

The state’s counsel argued that since Navratri had already begun and the campus had not installed any idol of Goddess Durga, the petition relied solely on apprehensions and therefore did not hold.

After hearing both sides, the bench directed the Commissioner to examine the representation and issue a decision within three days of receiving the court’s order.

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