New Delhi, December 26: The district magistrate (DM) of Noida on Wednesday revoked the controversial order that said companies would be held liable if their Muslim employees offer Namaz at public parks in the city. After the furore over the diktat, Noida DM Brajesh Narain Singh withdrew the order and assured companies that there would be no action against them if their Muslim employees are found praying Namaz at public places.

"Companies and business houses are not liable for employees' religious beliefs and prayers. The district administration will talk to the companies and clear their doubts," Singh was quoted as saying. The district magistrate also said that the notice only concerned the Noida Authority Park in Sector 58 and not the entire city, as reported by TOI. Noida police chief Ajay Pal Sharma also clarified that the order was not specific to any one religion and was concerned all religious public gatherings. Greater Noida: 45-Year-Old Software Engineer Dies After Moving Car Catches Fire.

A police station in Uttar Pradesh's Noida sent notices to 23 private firms asking them to stop their Muslim employees from offering Friday prayers at a local park. "It is often seen that Muslim employees of your companies gather in large number in the park despite being advised against doing so and despite the city magistrate denying their request for permission to use it for offering namaaz," the notices, addressed to the managers of the firms, said.

"Therefore it is expected of you to inform your Muslim employees at your level and if they still assemble at the park, then it would be considered that you have not informed them and held as responsibility of the individual company," the notes stated. The notices were issued by Sector 58 Station House Officer (SHO) Pankaj Rai earlier this month.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 26, 2018 10:19 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).