Kerala High Court Closes Plea Against Police Uniform Ban on Temple Rituals After State Clarifies

The Kerala High Court on Thursday closed a writ petition challenging the police circular that prohibits uniformed personnel from participating in temple ceremonies, after the state police chief clarified that the restriction is limited to religious rituals and does not interfere with religious freedom.

A Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K. V. Jayakumar recorded the submissions made in the counter affidavit and closed the matter.

Challenge to the Circular

The petitioner, Dr. P. S. Mahendra Kumar, had challenged a circular issued by the State Police Chief on July 1, 2026, which directed police personnel not to attend religious functions, rituals or celebrations while wearing their official uniform, except when deployed for authorised official duties. The petitioner argued that the circular was arbitrary, unconstitutional, and violative of Articles 14, 25, and 29 of the Constitution.

State Police Chief's Clarification

In response, the State Police Chief filed a counter affidavit , stating that the direction "does not prohibit the practice of any religion, interfere with the administration of any temple or other religious institution, or curtail the religious rights guaranteed to any devotee or religious denomination under the Constitution ."

The affidavit further clarified that police personnel "shall continue to discharge all statutory duties in connection with festivals and religious events including maintenance of law and order, crowd management, traffic regulation, security arrangements, escort duties and all other policing functions entrusted to them and also those functions and duties which police has been traditionally doing."

The restriction, it said, "is confined only to participation in religious rituals or ceremonies while wearing the official police uniform, except where such participation forms part of an official duty."

The court was also informed that the circular was issued "in public interest and in the interest of maintaining discipline, uniformity, neutrality and the professional image of the police administration."

Court Records Submissions, Closes Petition

After hearing the submissions, the court noted that the petitioner's counsel, Sri K. R. Rajkumar, submitted that in view of the stand taken by the 6th respondent in paragraph No.4 of the counter affidavit, the writ petition could be closed after recording the same.

Accordingly, the Division Bench closed the writ petition by recording paragraphs 4 and 9 of the counter affidavit.

Key Observations

The court recorded the following statements from the counter affidavit:

"The direction does not prohibit the practice of any religion, interfere with the administration of any temple or other religious institution, or curtail the religious rights guaranteed to any devotee or religious denomination under the Constitution ."

"The impugned instruction has thus been issued in public interest and in the interest of maintaining discipline, uniformity, neutrality and the professional image of the police administration."

Implications

The closure of the petition means that the circular remains in force. The clarification by the state police chief ensures that while police personnel can perform all official duties related to religious events, they cannot participate in rituals while in uniform unless it is part of their duty. This upholds the principle of neutrality and professionalism of the police force while not curtailing religious freedom.

Case Title: Dr. P. S. Mahendra Kumar v State of Kerala and Ors.

Citation: 2026:KER:71501