Supreme Court adjourns hearing in Places of Worship Act

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned the hearing of pleas filed challenging the validity Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act 1991, which preserves the character of religious places as they existed on August 15, 1947.A bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar told the advocates appearing in the case that it is a three-judge bench matter whereas the sitting bench was a two-judge combination so it would be heard some other day.

Supreme Court Adjourns Hearing on Places of Worship Act

The CJI also took exception to many intervention applications being filed in the case and said there should be a limit to such applications."We will not take up the Places of Worship Act matter today. It is a three-judges matter. Too many petitions filed. List sometime in March. There is a limit to interventions being filed," said the CJI.

Supreme Court Postpones Hearing in Places of Worship Act Case

Indian National Congress Party, CPI(ML), All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) head Asaduddin Owaisi, Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind, India Muslim Personal Law Board, Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masjid which manages the mosque in the Gyanvapi complex, Shahi Idgah mosque committee of Mathura -- among others filed applications in the top court against the petitions challenging the validity of certain provisions of a 1991 law.

Hearing in Places of Worship Act Case Adjourned by Supreme Court

They challenged the petitions filed by some Hindu petitioners saying that entertaining the pleas against the Act will open floodgates of litigations against countless mosques across India. Filing intervention application in the case they sought dismissal of pleas challenging the Places of Worship Act.

Places of Worship Act: Supreme Court Reschedules Hearing
The apex court is seized of several petitions pertaining to challenge to the Act and strict implementation of the Act. The petitions had challenged the constitutional validity of Sections 2, 3, 4 of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act 1991, which it said violates the principles of secularism and the rule of law, which is an integral part of the Preamble and the basic structure of the Constitution.

Supreme Court Moves Hearing on Places of Worship Act to a Later Date
The sections violated several fundamental rights including the right to equality and freedom to practice religion, said the pleas.The Places of Worship Act prohibits altering the religious nature of any place of worship and imposes strict penalties for violations.

Places of Worship Act: Supreme Court Reschedules Hearing
On December 12, the top court restrained all courts across the country from passing any effective interim or final order including orders of survey in pending suits against existing religious structures.It also ordered that no fresh suits be registered over such claims while the court is hearing pleas challenging the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.