Places of Worship Act Hearing Live Updates: 'No fresh suits, orders or surveys on religious places till next hearing', SC on places of worship case

Places of Worship Act Live: 'Under Places of Worship Act, access to court has been blocked', says Petitioner Ashwini Upadhyay

Ashwini Upadhyay, a key petitioner challenging the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, on Thursday described the law as "unconstitutional," arguing that it blocks access to the courts and provides no alternative legal mechanism.

Speaking to ANI, Upadhyay pointed out that while the Waqf Act also limits access to courts, it offers alternative forums such as the Waqf Tribunal or board.

"The law states that the religious character of a place cannot be altered. We agree with this principle, but historical facts show that the Mughals modified the religious character of certain places. Our demand is for the restoration of their original character. Right now, I am in the Supreme Court dressed in black robes, resembling a lawyer. If I wear a tilak, I may appear Hindu; if I wear a cap, I may appear Muslim. My outward appearance can change, but determining my true character would require an investigation," he said.

Places of Worship Act Live: Applications in top court against petitions challenging validity of certain provisions of 1991 law

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, also filed applications in the top court against the petitions challenging the validity of certain provisions of the 1991 law.

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.

Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay on Thursday said that the religious character of a place cannot be determined through mere observation and argued for the necessity of surveys at disputed sites.

Upadhyay also challenged the validity of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, calling it unconstitutional and claiming it legitimizes historical actions by rulers such as Babar, Humayun, and Tughlaq.

Places of Worship Act Live: 18 suits concerning 10 mosques or shrines are currently pending across the country

The court was informed that 18 suits concerning 10 mosques or shrines are currently pending across the country. The Centre has been granted four weeks to submit its affidavit addressing the provisions of the Act, which petitioners claim is unconstitutional and denies the rights of Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs to restore their places of worship destroyed by historical invaders.

Places of Worship Act Live: Outcome of the case could impact ongoing lawsuits including dispute involving the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, among others

The outcome of the case could impact ongoing lawsuits filed by Hindu plaintiffs seeking rights to properties containing Muslim mosques, based on claims that these mosques were constructed over ancient temples.

These cases include disputes involving the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, the Shahi Eidgah Masjid in Mathura, and the Ajmer Dargah in Rajasthan. Muslim parties have contested the validity of such lawsuits, citing the Places of Worship Act.

Places of Worship Act Live: What are the Section 3 and Section 4 of the act that the court will examine?

Section 3 of the Act bars the conversion of places of worship. It states, "No person shall convert any place of worship of any religious denomination or any section thereof into a place of worship of a different section of the same religious denomination or of a different religious denomination or any section thereof."

Section 4 bars filing of any suit or initiating any other legal proceeding for a conversion of the religious character of any place of worship, as existing on August 15, 1947.

Places of Worship Act Live: What Advocate Barun Kumar Sinha said on SC hearing pleas challenging Places of Worship Act

On Supreme Court, hearing pleas challenging Places of Worship Act 1991 today, Advocate Barun Kumar Sinha said, "The Supreme Court has given another date for the hearing. The Supreme Court also passed an order that no lawsuit will be registered regarding the Places of Worship Act. Those lawsuits which have already been registered will continue. No other court will order any survey till this case is pending here."

'No law can be made to legalise the illegal work of Babar, Humayun, Tughlaq, Ghazni and Ghori': Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay

On Supreme Court, hearing pleas challenging Places of Worship Act, 1991 today, Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay said, "The opposite side said that the order to conduct a survey at 18 places should be withdrawn. We objected to it as the Places of Worship Act 1991, talks about the religious character. The religious character cannot be defined just by looking at it. No one can tell whether it (a place) is a temple or a mosque just by looking at it. A survey must be conducted. No law can be made to legalise the illegal work of Babar, Humayun, Tughlaq, Ghazni and Ghori. This law is completely against the Constitution of India."

Places of Worship Act: What are the petitioners in the case?

Daughter of the Kashi Royal Family, Maharaja Kumari Krishna Priya; BJP leader Subramanian Swamy; Chintamani Malviya, former Member of Parliament; Anil Kabotra, a retired army officer; advocates Chandra Shekhar; Rudra Vikram Singh, resident of Varanasi; Swami Jeetendranand Saraswati, a religious leader; Devkinandan Thakur Ji, resident of Mathura and a religious guru and advocate Ashwini Upadhyay among others have filed the pleas in the apex court against the 1991 Act.

The Supreme Court on Thursday said that no fresh suits can be registered against the Places of Worship act-1991 till the apex court is hearing the case. The top court also barred all courts nationwide from issuing any effective interim or final orders, including directives for surveys, in ongoing cases involving existing religious structures.

Places of Worship Act: SC restrains courts from passing final or survey orders in pending suits against religious structures

The Supreme Court on Thursday barred all courts nationwide from issuing any interim or final orders, including those permitting surveys, in ongoing cases concerning existing religious structures.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justices PV Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan also ruled that no new suits related to such claims can be registered while the Supreme Court is hearing challenges to the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.

"As the matter is sub-judice before this court, we direct that while suits may be filed, no suits shall be registered or proceedings initiated until further orders. In pending cases, courts are restrained from passing any effective interim or final orders, including survey orders," the bench said.

The court was informed that 18 suits are currently pending across the country against 10 mosques or shrines.

Places of Worship Act Hearing Live: SC stays fresh suits and orders for survey

The Supreme Court, while hearing petitions challenging the Places of Worship Act, directed on Thursday that no other court shall register new cases, issue effective final or interim orders, or authorize any surveys until it delivers its verdict on the matter.

Places of Worship Act Hearing Live: Key observations by the Supreme Court in the Places of Worship Act

• SC asks Centre to file replies to pleas in four weeks
• SC allows pleas of various parties including Muslim bodies seeking to intervene in proceedings
• SC grants four weeks to parties to file rejoinder after Centre files its reply to pleas

Places of Worship Act Hearing Live: 'No fresh suits, orders or surveys on religious places', says SC order on Places of Worship Act

The Supreme Court directed that till it decides the case on Places of Worship Act, no other court shall:

1. Register any fresh suits
2. pass any effective final orders or interim order
3. No decision of surveying any area

(Bar and Bench reported)

Places of Worship Act Hearing Live: SC places restriction on new and pending cases

Hearing the batch of petition in the Places of Worship Act, 1991, the Supreme Court directed that that no new suits or proceedings related to the 1991 Act should be initiated. In existing cases, courts are restrained from issuing effective or final orders while the matter is under the Supreme Court's consideration.

Hearing the Places of Worship Act, CJI as quoted by Live Law said, "Primary issue is with regard to section 3 and 4 of the 1991 act and it's contours as well as width and expanse of the said section. As the matter is subjudice before this court we deem it fit to direct that no fresh suits shall be registered or proceedings be ordered. In the pending suits courts would not pass any effective order or final orders. When a matter is pending before us is it just and fair for any other court to examine it. We are on vires as well as ambit of the act."

Places of Worship Act Hearing Live: SC orders that no effective interim or final orders will be passed, including on surveys, till next date

"Our direction includes that no other court shall pass any specific directions of surveys, no effective interim order shall be passed till the court concludes this case," SC said, as reported by the Bar and Bench.

Places of Worship Act Hearing Live: SC asks Union and other respondents to file their responses within four weeks

SC asks Union and other respondents to file their responses within four weeks.

"Application for impleadment stands allowed. Union has not filed a counter, let the counter filed within four weeks. Respondents to do the same. Copy of counter to be served on petitioners. Petitioner shall file rejoinder within 4 weeks after counter," SC said, as reported by the Bar and Bench.

Places of Worship Act Hearing Live: SC asks Centre to file affidavit in a batch of petitions challenging Places of Worship Act, 1991

Supreme Court asks Centre to file affidavit in a batch of petitions challenging certain provisions of Places of Worship (Special Provision) Act, 1991, that prohibit the filing of a lawsuit to reclaim a place of worship or seek a change in its character from what prevailed on August 15, 1947.

Places of Worship Act Hearing Live: 'No further suits can be registered till we hear the case', says SC

Supreme Court says that no further suits can be registered in the country till it hears and disposes off the petitions challenging Places of Worship Act.

Hearing the pleas on Places of Worship Act, CJI said as quoted by the Bar and Bench, "The matter is sub judice. No further suits cannot be registered till we hear and dispose off the case. We have the Ram Janmabhoomi case also."

Places of Worship Act Hearing Live: 'Protects the secular fabric', says MP Karti Chidambaram on Places of Worship Act

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram strongly defended the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, as the Supreme Court will be hearing pleas challenging the law.

Speaking to the ANI, Chidambaram said that the Act was crucial in maintaining the secular fabric of India and should not be altered.

"The provisions of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, protect the secular fabric of the nation. Any alteration to the Act is very problematic," Chidambaram stated.

He stressed that changing the law would not only disrupt the social harmony but could have broader consequences for India's unity.

"How far are we going to go back as every country is filled with rulers coming in and imposing their will? We can't keep going back in time and we should draw a line and adhere to the line drawn by Places of Worship Act, 1991" he said.

Places of Worship Act Hearing Live: What do the pleas against Places of Worship Act state?

The Supreme Court will hear multiple petitions, including one filed by Ashwini Upadhyay, seeking the annulment of Sections 2, 3, and 4 of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.

The pleas challenged the Places of Worship Act saying that the Act takes away the rights of Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs to restore their 'places of worship and pilgrimages', destroyed by invaders.

One of the primary arguments raised is that these provisions deny individuals or religious groups the right to seek judicial remedies to reclaim places of worship.

In contrast, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Maharashtra MLA Jitendra Satish Awhad have submitted petitions opposing the challenges to the Act's constitutional validity. They argue that the law upholds public order, fraternity, unity, and the secular fabric of the nation.

Places of Worship Act Hearing Live: What is the 1991 Places of Worship Act that has been challenged in the Supreme Court?

The 1991 law bars the conversion of any place of worship and mandates the preservation of its religious character as it stood on August 15, 1947, along with addressing related or incidental matters.

The legislation includes a single exception: the dispute concerning the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.

Places of Worship Act Hearing Live: Congress MP Karti Chidambaram says, 'any alteration to the act is very problematic'

"The provisions of Places of Worship Act 1991 protect the secular fabric of the nation. Any alteration to the act is very problematic...How far are we going to go back as every country is filled with rulers coming in and imposing their will...We can't keep going back in time and we should draw a line and adhere to the line drawn by Places of Worship Act 1991," he said.

Places of Worship Act Hearing Live: BJP MP Arun Govil hopes for 'good decision'

"The matter is in court and it is a matter which needs to be discussed properly. Everyone has the right to worship...I am hopeful that the court will take a good decision regarding it," he said.

Places of Worship Act Hearing Live: Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay on Supreme Court hearing pleas challenging Places of Worship Act

Upadhyay said, "This a place of worship act not a place of prayer act. The temple is known as a place of worship whereas the mosque is a place of prayer. The law talks about character, not identity...We want surveys to be conducted of all the disputed places so that the true character of the place can be known...This is not a matter of Hindu-Muslim...The places that have been mentioned in Vedas, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana should be restored and for that, its surveys should be done"

Places of Worship Act Hearing Live: 'SC will take decision today on how Indian Worship Act is violated,' says Congress MP Pramod Tiwari

As the Supreme Court of India prepares to examine multiple petitions contesting the constitutional validity of specific clauses within the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said that the apex court would deliver its assessment regarding the alleged violations of the Places of Worship Act.

The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing to review several petitions that question the constitutional legitimacy of particular sections contained in the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act.

Places of Worship Act Hearing Live: What does the Act say

It is an "Act to prohibit conversion of any place of worship and to provide for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on the 15th day of August, 1947, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto."

It defines conversion, "with its grammatical variations, includes alteration or change of whatever nature."

Places of Worship Act Hearing Live: Who are against the 1991 Act

The Delhi-based NGO Hindu Shree Foundation, which claims to represent the interests of Hindu devotees both domestically and internationally, argued that the Act is arbitrary.

They criticized the August 15, 1947, cut-off date, asserting that there is no rational connection between India’s political independence and the resolution of civilizational conflicts stemming from the colonial erasure of Hindu identity and the cultural dominance imposed by Islamic invaders.

Former MP Chintamani Malviya also filed an application challenging the Act, claiming it violates secularism and should be abolished. He argued that the law is unconstitutional and infringes on the rights of Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs to practice and propagate their religion.

According to Malviya, the Act denies these communities the right to reclaim religious properties that were misappropriated by other communities and removes their right to judicial remedy. He further contended that the Centre overstepped its legislative authority by preventing judicial review, a fundamental feature upheld by the Supreme Court in various rulings.

Places of Worship Act Hearing Live: From ex-CIC to ex-CEC, who have approached the apex court to protect 1991 Act

Among the prominent figures who approached the Supreme Court, either individually or in groups, were former Punjab DGP Julio Ribeiro, former Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah, former Delhi LG Najeeb Jung, former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi, Lt Gen Zamiruddin Shah (retired), former Home Secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai, historians Romila Thapar and Mridula Mukherjee, and MPs Manoj Jha (RJD) and Thol Thirumavalavan (VCK).

Their common argument was that the 1991 Act was essential to protect India’s social fabric and maintain communal harmony, and that reopening settled religious disputes would only harm the nation.

Places of Worship Act Hearing Live: What are the arguments in favour of the Act

In response to arguments suggesting that many religious structures were converted into mosques during the Mughal invasions, some applicants countered that even if mosques were built on demolished Hindu temples, such claims could be endless.

They argued that Hindu temples were often constructed on the ruins of Buddhist stupas, and Buddhists could then seek to restore those sites as stupas. The applicants emphasized that the Places of Worship Act was introduced to end such controversies and preserve peace and communal harmony.

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

The Supreme Court of India will conduct a hearing to address multiple petitions that question the constitutional validity of specific sections within the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. This legislation bars any legal action aimed at reclaiming religious sites or altering their status from what was established on August 15, 1947.

The proceedings will be overseen by a panel comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, alongside Justices PV Sanjay Kumar and KV Vishwanathan.

Several prominent individuals have filed petitions against the 1991 Act, including Maharaja Kumari Krishna Priya from the Kashi Royal Family, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, former MP Chintamani Malviya, retired army officer Anil Kabotra, advocates Chandra Shekhar, Varanasi resident Rudra Vikram Singh, religious leader Swami Jeetendranand Saraswati, Mathura resident and spiritual guru Devkinandan Thakur Ji, and advocate Ashwini Upadhyay.

The challengers contend that the Act contradicts secularism and legal principles, restricting their ability to seek judicial intervention. Additionally, they argue that the legislation impedes their authority to oversee and maintain their religious establishments and pilgrimage sites.