The Supreme Court will hear multiple petitions concerning the Places of Worship Act 1991 on February 17, including an intervention filed by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi. Owaisi, in his petition, strongly opposed the repeal of the Act, warning that such a move could disrupt communal harmony and destabilize the nation’s atmosphere.
The Places of Worship Act 1991, introduced by the PV Narasimha Rao-led Congress government, aims to preserve the religious character of places of worship as they were on August 15, 1947. Section 3 of the Act prohibits the conversion of any religious site, while Section 4 ensures its status remains unchanged from that date.
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Owaisi expressed optimism after a previous Supreme Court order, which directed lower courts to refrain from passing any effective orders or conducting surveys while the matter is under hearing. The Chief Justice of India (CJI) also barred the registration of new cases related to the Act.
Before Owaisi, petitions supporting the Act were filed by CPI(M), Maharashtra MLA Jitendra Satish Awhad, and RJD MP Manoj Jha. On the opposing side, Vishwabhadra Pujari Purohit Mahasangh, Dr. Subramanian Swamy, Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, Karunesh Kumar Shukla, and Anil Tripathi have sought the repeal of the Act, challenging its constitutional validity.
The Gyanvapi Mosque Management Committee has also filed an intervention petition, arguing that repealing the Act could have “serious and far-reaching consequences.” The committee emphasized its role as a stakeholder in several ongoing cases that involve claims to alter the status of religious sites, which are prohibited under the Act.
The Places of Worship Act 1991 has been a cornerstone in maintaining religious harmony, and the Supreme Court’s deliberations are likely to have significant implications for the future of religious places across India.