The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
‘The people should be led in prayer by the one among them who has the most knowledge of the Book of Allaah;
if they are equal in knowledge of the Qur’aan,
then by the one who has most knowledge of the Sunnah;
if they are equal in knowledge of the Sunnah,
then by the one who migrated (made hijrah) first;
if they are equal in terms of hijrah,
then by the one who became Muslim first.
No man should lead another in prayer
in his domain of authority, or sit in his place in his house,
except with his permission.”
(Narrated by Muslim, 673)
(Think about it, with reference to the imams in our local mosques in Kashmir.)