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MLA Jitendra Awhad Backs Places of Worship Act, Cites National Unity in SC

Writer's picture: Legal Soch FoundationLegal Soch Foundation
2 min read

In a significant development, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and MLA Jitendra Awhad has approached the Supreme Court to express his support for the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. Awhad filed an intervention application, arguing that the Act is crucial for maintaining secularism and promoting national unity across India.


The Places of Worship Act prohibits the conversion of any place of worship and mandates that their religious character, as it existed on August 15, 1947, must be preserved. This legislation excludes the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site, which was subject to legal proceedings prior to its enactment.


In his application, Awhad contended that the law plays a pivotal role in ensuring societal harmony by protecting the status of religious places. He stated that any attempt to alter or question the Act could disrupt communal peace and adversely affect India’s secular fabric.


The Supreme Court is currently hearing multiple petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Places of Worship Act. The petitioners argue that the Act violates the principles of equality and access to justice by barring the resolution of disputes over historical claims to religious sites.


Awhad’s intervention aligns with the government’s position, which has also defended the Act in court. His plea highlights the importance of upholding the legislation to prevent the reopening of potentially divisive disputes and to safeguard the constitutional values of secularism.


This intervention comes at a time when debates over religious identity and historical claims are intensifying. The Supreme Court's ruling on this matter could have far-reaching implications for communal harmony and the legal framework governing religious sites in India.





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