The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid, Gyanvapi Masjid’s management committee, has petitioned the Supreme Court to intervene in ongoing challenges to the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.
According to an India Today report, the committee argued that the mosque is central to several legal disputes, making it a key stakeholder in the matter. The application highlighted concerns over the Act being misinterpreted and weakened through lawsuits targeting mosques. It also noted that requests for interim orders, such as conducting surveys of mosques, were being made before resolving fundamental legal questions.
The committee emphasised the importance of the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Ram Janmabhoomi case, which upheld the Act’s validity. The ruling underscored the principle of non-retrogression – preventing the government from revoking protections once granted – as a core element of secularism and a fundamental aspect of the Constitution.
Arguing that the Act is integral to maintaining secular values, the committee stated that petitions challenging its constitutionality were “rhetorical” and lacked substantive legal grounds. It stressed that the Supreme Court cannot adjudicate claims based on actions of historical rulers, as noted in the Ram Janmabhoomi verdict.
The committee also warned of potential unrest, citing recent violence in Sambhal, as an example of the severe consequences such challenges could provoke.
