Prayagraj, Feb. 21 -- The Allahabad high court has quashed a criminal case against two students who were implicated for offering Namaz at a location restricted by the local administration. Justice Saurabh Srivastava also warned the students to follow the instructions and specific restraints issued by the local administration in future. The two applicants were implicated in an FIR for the commission of the alleged offences under Sections 143 (unlawful assembly) and 188 (disobedience to orders lawfully promulgated by a public servant) of the IPC. A court in Sant Kabir Nagar took cognisance of the offence and issued a summoning order against them in May 2019. It was submitted before the court that applicants possessed no criminal history and were simply students. Their implication was based solely on a restriction on the offering of Namaz, and that Applicant No. 1 is an aspirant for higher class competitive examinations and the mechanical implication in such "petty offences" could adversely affect his future if the trial continued. The additional government advocate (AGA) for the State admitted the absence of a criminal history but submitted that certain places had been notified as not permitted for offering Namaz to maintain law and order. The state government counsel contended that the applicants deliberately insisted on offering Namaz at the restricted place and, hence, violated instructions issued by the local administration to maintain the peace and harmony of society. The court observed, "In the democratic set up of this country, which is secular in nature as per the Preamble of the Constitution, citizens of every faith, belief of different caste, creed and religion have been guaranteed the right to follow their faith and belief as per their own rituals. At the same time, considering the mixed culture of society, certain yardsticks and the suggestions in the shape of directions have to be followed by citizens of the country, which is in the larger interest of the society for maintaining law and order, as well as and harmony amongst the local residents." After going through entire proceedings, including its order dated February 17, the court quashed and set aside the proceedings but both were warned to follow the instructions and the specific restrainment, if issued by the local administration in future....