New Delhi: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna expressed frustration over the growing number of new petitions regarding the Places of Worship Act, 1991, which prevents any lawsuits from being filed to reclaim religious sites or change their character as they existed on August 15, 1947.
During today’s hearing, the Chief Justice firmly stated, “Enough is enough. There has to be an end to this,” and made it clear that the Supreme Court would no longer entertain any new petitions related to this matter. However, the court has allowed the filing of intervention petitions with new grounds, though it refused to issue notices for the new petitions submitted so far.
Context of the Case
The Places of Worship Act, 1991, passed during the Congress-led government, was designed to maintain the religious status of all places of worship as they were on Independence Day, with the exception of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute.
Legal efforts to reclaim Hindu temples, which had been converted to other places of worship, have intensified in recent years. The original petition challenging the law’s validity was filed by Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, followed by 18 lawsuits by Hindu groups seeking to reclaim 10 mosques. These include the high-profile disputes involving:
Shahi Idgah-Krishna Janmabhoomi (Mathura)
Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi Mosque (Varanasi)
Sambhal Mosque (Uttar Pradesh)
In response, multiple opposition parties have approached the Supreme Court, defending the 1991 law. The Congress (which passed the law) and Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM are among the political parties that have petitioned for its strict implementation. A petitioner during the hearing emphasized that the law is necessary to ensure peaceful coexistence across religious communities.
Supreme Court’s Stand on Intervention Petitions
Chief Justice Khanna acknowledged that the court had previously allowed new petitions to be filed but stressed that there must be limits. “Fresh intervention applications will be allowed only if they raise grounds that have not yet been addressed,” he clarified.
The court awaits a formal reply from the Central Government, as noted by Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, who represents the petitioners challenging the law.
This decision marks a significant development in ongoing legal battles concerning historic temple-mosque disputes and religious harmony in India.
