Places of Worship Act hearing Live Updates: Supreme Court to take up validity of Places of Worship Act today

India’s Supreme Court will hear a series of petitions challenging the constitutionality of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which bars suits to claim places of worship or change their status from what existed on August 15, 1947. A special bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, along with Justices PV Sanjay Kumar and KV Vishwanathan, will hear the case.

The petitioners, including religious leaders, politicians and lawyers, claim that the Act violates the rights of Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs to restore and manage their places of worship by violating their constitutional rights under Articles 25, 26 and 29.

Key provisions under scrutiny include Sections 2, 3 and 4, which have banned the conversion of religious sites and suits over their character since 1947. Opposing parties, including the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and the Muslim Personal Law Council of India, argue that repealing the Law could lead to widespread litigation targeting mosques.
The petitioners claim that the Law violates the principles of secularism, the rule of law and cultural heritage, considering it unconstitutional to close the courts to disputes related to places of worship appropriated by the invaders.