Kumar Bahukhandi
The apex court said that the matter is currently pending in the court, hence we order that no new suit will be filed and no final order will be given in the cases already ongoing.
New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Thursday December 12 , 2024 directed that no fresh litigation in relation to religious places or pilgrimage sites can be filed or survey ordered by district courts as long as the matter related to the validity of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, is pending before it.
A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice KV Vishwanathan said, “When the matter is sub judice before this court, would it not be appropriate for others to take up the matter.” The apex court said that though fresh suits may be filed, they will not be registered and no effective orders will be passed by the district courts.
Four weeks time given to the Center
The apex court also gave four more weeks to the central government to file a reply on the petitions challenging the validity of the 1991 law. While considering a batch of petitions, the court also said that no reply has been filed by the Center on the petition seeking implementation of the law.
The newly constituted bench rejected the opposition to the order to stay the consideration of new cases. The order was opposed by the lawyers appearing for those challenging the validity of the law. The bench said, “No action can be taken even if the case is filed. When the matter is pending before this court, will it not be appropriate to stay it for others. Till we examine the matter, no effective order or survey order can be passed.”
What is the Places of Worship Act, 1991
The Places of Worship Act, 1991 was implemented by the PV Narasimha Rao government at the peak of the Ram Mandir movement. The law was aimed at protecting the status of religious places as they existed on August 15, 1947. Around 18 cases have been filed across the country to conduct surveys at various religious places, including mosques and dargahs, which Muslim parties have claimed is in violation of the provisions of the law.
