Supreme Court to Hear Plea on 1991 Worship Law's Implementation

The Supreme Court is set to hear AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi's plea advocating for the enforcement of the 1991 places of worship law. This law, which maintains the religious character of sites as they were in 1947, is challenged by various petitions seeking to reclaim religious sites, leading to stalled proceedings.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a plea by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi regarding the implementation of the 1991 places of worship law, aimed at preserving the religious character of sites as of August 15, 1947. Owaisi's plea was filed on December 17, 2024, by advocate Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi.

However, the court, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, has previously restrained courts from entertaining new suits against the 1991 law. This was in response to various pleas seeking to reclaim religious sites, notably targeting mosques such as Gyanvapi and Shahi Idgah Masjid.

The 1991 law prohibits changes to places of worship and Owaisi wants the central government to ensure its enforcement. While the plea seeks to align with ongoing matters, the Muslim side also pushes for its strict implementation to maintain communal harmony and protect existing mosque statuses.

(With inputs from agencies.)