Places of Worship Act: Lower courts should not pass orders, says Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has ruled that no court in the country shall issue interim or final orders in petitions citing the Places of Worship Act, 1991, until further notice. The apex court specifically directed that no orders be issued for conducting surveys, whether scientific or otherwise, in mosques or dargahs. While new petitions may be filed, they should not be admitted, considered, or acted upon. This effectively places a stay on further proceedings in disputes involving over 17 mosques across the country, including Gyanvapi, Sambhal, and Mathura.

The special bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices PV Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan observed that it would be inappropriate for other courts to hear such cases while the Supreme Court is extensively examining the validity of the Places of Worship Act. The bench clarified that the Act prohibits filing such petitions, and no further proceedings can take place in these cases until a final determination on the Act's validity is made.

The court allowed various organisations such as the Varanasi Gyanvapi Mosque Committee, the Mathura Shahi Eidgah Mosque Management Committee, Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama, CPM, Muslim League, All India Lawyers' Union, DMK, NCP Sharad Pawar faction and RJD to join as parties in the case. It also sought the stance of the central government. The Centre should respond within four weeks. The court will not hear the case until then. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured that an affidavit would be filed. The court also appointed nodal officers to ensure the smooth conduct of the case.