Centre seeks time from Supreme Court to reply on Places Of Worship Act petitions

Places of Worship Act: The Supreme Court will now hear the matter in January.

Updated on: Nov 14, 2022, 12:23:55 IST

By HT News Desk | Reported by Utkarsh Anand | Edited by Swati Bhasin, New Delhi

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The central government has sought more time from the Supreme Court to submit its response on a bunch of petitions, challenging the validity of the Places of Worship Act. The top court has thereby adjourned the case for January first week, asking the government to file its affidavit by December 12. Introduced on July 11, 1991, the law maintained the “religious character” of all places of worship as it was in 1947, except the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute.

In September, the court had granted time to Centre to reply over the petitions and had posted the matter before a three-judge bench. The court issued notice on all petitions and applications and directed all parties to share copies of their petitions/applications.

It asked the Registry to place these matters before the appropriate three-judge bench on October 11. Later, in October, the central government was granted two more weeks to respond.

In one of the petitions, the Jamiat UIlama i-Hind - seeking the enforcement of the law - had said: "Muslim places of worship are being made the subject matter of frivolous controversies and suits, which are patently barred under the 1991 Act".

Meanwhile, another petition was filed by the Vishwa Bhadra Pujari Purohit Mahasangh in June 2020. It challenged the law on the ground that it denies judicial review by preventing citizens from filing lawsuits to reclaim land belonging to temples that were destroyed by Muslim rulers.

Earlier in July, the top court had said that the 1991 Places of Worship Act cannot be brought into play in a battle between two sects of the same religion as it refused to entertain a petition by a sect of the Jain community alleging conversion of its religious places by another sect. “How can you file an Article 32 petition? You will have to file a civil suit. This is a dispute between two sects. You cannot seek this under the Places of Worship Act,” the bench had said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Supreme Court

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.