Prohibitions on Religious Activities in Indian Public Offices: Reinforcing Secularism Amid Cultural and Political Tensions

New Delhi, India – August 27, 2025, 10:20 AM IST

India, a nation renowned for its religious diversity, upholds secularism as a foundational principle of its governance, enshrined in the Constitution. To maintain neutrality and prevent communal discord, several states and central authorities have enforced strict prohibitions on religious activities in government offices, police stations, and other public institutions. These measures aim to ensure impartiality, operational efficiency, and inclusivity in a country where over 80% of the population is Hindu, alongside significant Muslim, Christian, Sikh, and other communities. Despite these bans, violations persist, often driven by cultural traditions or political directives, sparking debates over the balance between secular governance and religious expression. This report explores the legal framework, state-specific prohibitions, enforcement challenges, and the broader implications for India’s secular identity.

Constitutional Mandate: Secularism as a Core Principle

The Indian Constitution establishes India as a “sovereign socialist secular democratic republic,” a commitment solidified by the 42nd Amendment in 1976.

Articles 25 to 28 guarantee freedom of religion, allowing individuals to practice their faith while imposing restrictions on the state to remain neutral.

Article 27 explicitly prohibits the use of public funds for promoting any religion, and Article 28 bans religious instruction in state-run institutions.

The Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994) declared secularism a basic feature of the Constitution, underscoring that government institutions must not favor or engage in religious practices.

No national law, including the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), or other central statutes, mandates or permits religious activities in government offices or police stations. The U.S. State Department’s 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom notes that India’s Constitution “mandates a secular state” and prohibits discrimination based on religion in public institutions.

Public holidays for religious festivals like Diwali, Eid, and Christmas are declared under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, but these are optional closures, not mandates for celebration.

The Police Act of 1861 and state police regulations focus on maintaining public order, empowering officers to regulate religious events but not to participate in them.

State-Specific Bans on Religious Activities

To uphold secularism and prevent disruptions, several states have issued explicit prohibitions on religious activities in government premises. These measures respond to concerns about favoritism, communal tensions, and administrative inefficiency.

• Tamil Nadu: A 1968 government order bans religious festivals and rituals in government offices and police stations, aiming to maintain neutrality. Despite this, violations occur, notably during Ayudha Puja, where weapons are worshipped in police stations. In 2019, the Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam (DVK) reported instances in Coimbatore, including animal sacrifices, and demanded legal action to enforce the ban.

In 2023, similar violations prompted renewed activism, with DVK citing Article 51A(h), which promotes scientific temper and humanism.

The Madras High Court, in a 2012 ruling, clarified that pujas in offices are permissible only if they comply with existing prohibitions, referencing a 1993 state directive and a 2010 circular banning such activities.

• Kerala: In October 2024, the state government issued a circular prohibiting cultural and religious gatherings in government offices, including festivals like Onam and Christmas, to enhance productivity and uphold secularism.

Extended into 2025, this ban aims to keep public institutions free of religious influence. While enforcement has been largely effective, isolated violations have been reported, prompting oversight by state authorities.

• Karnataka: Progressive groups have pushed for a comprehensive ban on religious activities in government premises. In 2025, intellectuals and activists demanded the removal of religious displays, worship, and festivals from offices and schools, arguing they violate secular principles.

A 2024 circular restricting festivals in residential schools and colleges to national events like Republic Day was issued but revoked after public backlash.

In July 2025, a ban on Muharram celebrations in villages, citing law and order concerns, sparked criticism for infringing on religious freedom.<grok:render Maharashtra: A 2017 circular banned religious pictures, idols, and rituals in government offices and schools to uphold secularism but was withdrawn due to political opposition.

Informal guidelines discouraging such practices persist, and activists continue to file petitions against religious displays, citing constitutional violations.

• Central Government: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) prohibited all religious congregations, including festivals, in public spaces, including government offices, under lockdown guidelines.

This set a precedent for restricting religious activities in official settings. Public interest litigations (PILs) filed in courts, such as a 2020 petition in the Madras High Court, have sought to ban religious symbols and practices in government institutions, reinforcing secular mandates. Enforcement Challenges and Political Countercurrents

Despite clear prohibitions, enforcement remains inconsistent due to cultural traditions and political influences. In Tamil Nadu, Ayudha Puja celebrations in police stations continue to surface, with reports of garlanded weapons and rituals in defiance of the 1968 ban.

In Karnataka, religious displays in offices have prompted demands for stricter oversight, but cultural acceptance of such practices often hinders action.

Political directives in some states exacerbate these challenges. In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has since 2017 encouraged grand Janmashtami celebrations in police stations, jails, police lines, and training centers, with the latest directive issued in August 2025.

Adityanath framed these events as promoting social harmony, stating, “Lord Krishna’s ideals inspire peace and unity, which our police must emulate.”

He also equated the practice to allowing Eid prayers in public spaces, arguing for equal treatment of religions.

Over 3,000 police personnel were deployed in Mathura for Janmashtami 2025, and Adityanath personally attended prayers at the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple.

Critics, including opposition parties and social media users, argue that such directives promote Hinduism at the expense of secularism, potentially violating constitutional principles. Posts on X and Reddit have labeled these actions as “state-sponsored religious bias” and a misuse of public resources, with one user stating, “Police stations are for law enforcement, not puja.”No legal challenges to the Uttar Pradesh directive have been reported as of August 27, 2025, but activists suggest that a public interest litigation could test its constitutionality.

Broader Implications: Secularism Under Scrutiny

The prohibitions on religious activities in public offices are set against a broader context of concerns about religious freedom in India. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) 2025 Annual Report recommended designating India as a “Country of Particular Concern” for “severe” violations, citing anti-conversion laws in 12 states and the lifting of a 60-year ban on civil servants joining the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 2024, seen as promoting Hindu nationalism.

Human Rights Watch’s 2025 World Report noted rising attacks on minorities, linking some incidents to state-backed religious activities.

The Indian government has rejected these criticisms, asserting its commitment to secularism.

Public sentiment is polarized. On X, some users defend cultural celebrations as unifying traditions, with one post stating, “Small festival events in offices boost morale and community spirit.” Others argue for strict neutrality, with a Reddit thread demanding, “Government spaces must be free of all religious influence to serve everyone equally.”

Legal Recourse and Future Prospects

Courts have been instrumental in addressing violations. The Madras High Court’s 2012 ruling balanced cultural practices with legal prohibitions, urging adherence to existing bans.

Rationalist groups like DVK continue to push for enforcement through legal challenges, particularly in Tamil Nadu.

In Uttar Pradesh, the absence of legal challenges to Janmashtami directives may change if opposition groups escalate the issue, potentially invoking Articles 14 and 15 (equality and non-discrimination) or Article 27 (no public funds for religion).

Legal scholars argue that any mandate for religious activities in offices would likely be struck down as unconstitutional, given the judiciary’s strong stance on secularism. The Status of Policing in India Report 2025 emphasizes that police must prioritize law enforcement over religious engagement to maintain public trust.

For other festivals, such as Holi or Eid, police guidelines focus on security and public order, not office-based celebrations, under provisions like Section 163 BNS

Conclusion: Navigating Secularism in a Religious Society

India’s prohibitions on religious activities in public offices reflect a robust commitment to secularism, ensuring that government institutions serve all citizens without bias. While cultural traditions and political directives, such as those in Uttar Pradesh, challenge enforcement, the legal framework remains clear: no law mandates religious celebrations, and bans often take precedence to maintain neutrality and order. As India grapples with its pluralistic identity, the judiciary, civil society, and public discourse will continue to shape the delicate balance between cultural expression and constitutional mandates, ensuring that public offices remain spaces of governance, not worship.

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Sources:  USCIRF 2025 Report, Human Rights Watch, and discussions on X and Reddit.