New Delhi: A crucial hearing on the validity of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, is scheduled to take place today before a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justices Sanjay Kumar and K.V. Viswanathan. The bench will convene at 2 p.m. to address petitions challenging the Act, which preserves the religious character of places of worship as they existed on August 15, 1947, reports The Hindu.
The Act, which aims to uphold secularism, has been a point of contention, particularly in disputes surrounding historical religious sites. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), represented by advocate Haris Beeran, has argued that the Act safeguards secularism – a fundamental feature of the Constitution – and cannot be amended, even by Parliament.
The Shahi Eidgah mosque committee in Mathura has also sought to intervene, citing the potential implications of the case on claims regarding the mosque’s location on the Krishna Janmabhoomi.
The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, through advocate Eijaz Maqbool, has filed a separate writ petition, stating that the recent surge in lawsuits to “reclaim” temples allegedly destroyed during the Mughal era represents a step backward. The petition emphasises that the Supreme Court’s 2019 Babri Masjid judgment upheld the Act’s validity and the secular values it protects.
“The Act clearly mandates that the religious character of places of worship as of August 15, 1947, be preserved, barring any legal claims challenging this status. Despite this, several suits are being entertained,” the petition highlights.
The hearing comes at a time of growing disputes over religious sites, including cases involving the Varanasi and Mathura mosques. Legal observers are keenly watching the proceedings, given their potential impact on the interpretation of constitutional secularism and the preservation of India’s pluralistic heritage.
