SC to Hear Petitions on Places of Worship Act, 1991, Amid Political and Religious Controversy

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The Supreme Court is set to hear petitions on December 12 challenging key provisions of the Places of Worship (Special Provision) Act, 1991, which prohibits the filing of lawsuits to reclaim religious sites or seek a change in their character from what existed on August 15, 1947. The petitions argue that these provisions infringe upon the right to seek legal recourse regarding the ownership and character of religious places.

A special bench, comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Justices PV Sanjay Kumar, and KV Vishwanathan, will hear the case at 3.30 pm. The Places of Worship Act, enacted to preserve the religious character of all places of worship, mandates that no place of worship shall be converted, and the status as it existed on August 15, 1947, should remain unchanged. This law has been the subject of controversy, with critics arguing that it effectively curtails legal challenges to places of worship, particularly where disputes over ownership and religious identity have persisted for decades.

The timing of the hearings comes amid heightened political tensions surrounding the issue of religious sites in India. On the same day, Asaduddin Owaisi, the leader of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), launched a strong attack on the BJP-led government, accusing it of fueling unnecessary religious disputes. Owaisi claimed that the BJP’s influence is behind groups like “Vahinis,” “Parishads,” and “Senas,” which have been stirring controversy over the ownership of religious sites.

Owaisi posted a scathing statement on social media, asserting, “The people of India are being pushed into fights over history where none existed. No nation can become a superpower if 14% of its population faces such constant pressures. Behind every ‘Vahini,’ ‘Parishad,’ and ‘Sena,’ there is the invisible hand of the ruling party. They have a duty to defend the Places of Worship Act and put an end to these false disputes.”

The case will likely stir significant legal, religious, and political debates as the country grapples with the complexities of historical disputes over religious sites and their implications in the present day.

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