Supreme Court to Examine Places of Worship Act's Validity

New Delhi- The Committee of Management of Mathura's Shahi Masjid Eidgah filed an intervention application in the Supreme Court on Wednesday, ahead of a crucial hearing on the Places of Worship Act, 1991. The application argues that the law, which prohibits the alteration of religious sites as they existed on August 15, 1945, is crucial for the nation's progress and has been upheld by a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in the M. Siddiq (D) Thr. Lrs. vs. Mahant Suresh Das & Ors. case.

The mosque committee emphasized that the 1991 Act has served the country well for over three decades and the petitioners are challenging it belatedly, after 29 years. They also highlighted that the outcome of these petitions could impact pending legal cases related to the mosque, including suits filed by plaintiffs claiming ownership of the land on which the Shahi Masjid Eidgah stands.

The application states that the mosque committee is a party to 17 different suits in the Allahabad High Court, where plaintiffs are seeking the removal of the mosque, claiming it was built over the Krishna Janm Sthan. The committee believes their intervention is necessary to assist the Supreme Court in adjudicating the issues related to the Places of Worship Act, 1991.

A three-judge Special Bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, and comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and K.V. Vishwanathan, will hear the matter on December 12.