New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to examine a plea filed by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, seeking the enforcement of the 1991 Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, which mandates the preservation of the religious character of all places of worship as they existed on August 15, 1947.
A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar ordered Owaisi’s plea to be tagged along with pending cases concerning the same issue. The matter has been scheduled for hearing on February 17, 2025.
At the outset, advocate Nizam Pasha, representing Owaisi, urged the bench to consolidate the plea with existing petitions challenging the provisions of the 1991 law. “We will tag this,” the Chief Justice remarked.
Owaisi, president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), filed the petition on December 17, 2024, through advocate Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi. The plea emphasizes the need for the Central government to ensure effective implementation of the 1991 Act and expresses concerns over instances where courts have entertained petitions seeking surveys of mosques.
Background on the 1991 Law
The Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, prohibits the conversion of any place of worship and requires maintaining the religious character of any place of worship as it stood on August 15, 1947. The law was enacted to uphold secular values and maintain harmony among diverse communities.
On December 12, 2024, the Supreme Court, acting on a batch of petitions challenging the Act’s provisions, had directed all lower courts to refrain from entertaining new suits or passing interim or final orders concerning the reclaiming of religious places, particularly mosques and dargahs.
Owaisi’s Concerns
Owaisi’s plea underscores the importance of adhering to the 1991 Act in light of recent court-ordered surveys of mosques prompted by petitions from Hindu litigants. The AIMIM leader has requested the Supreme Court to issue directives to the Union government for stringent implementation of the law to avoid potential conflicts.
The case remains a significant legal and societal issue, with the upcoming hearing expected to provide clarity on the Act’s application and implications for religious harmony in the country.
