SC Defers Places Of Worship Hearing, Orders Limit On Fresh Interventions

🦄The Supreme Court of India has posted the matter regarding the Places of Worship, 1991 Act to April. As per Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, the matter will not be heard today.

꧑Furthermore, the top court expressed its displeasure over the filing of fresh pleas calling for the protection of the act.

🌠The matter was set to be heard by a three-judge bench led by CJI Sanjiv Khanna. However, the CJI and Justice Sanjay Kumar indicated that the court would not hear the case managed by a three-judge bench when only two judges are present.

🎶Taking notice of the increasing number of petitions and interim applications, the CJI expressed his concern about the increasing number of pleas.

𝔉"There is a limit to which petitions can be filed. So many IAs (interim applications) have been filed. We might not be able to take it up", the CJI said," adding that the matter may be taken up in March.

ꦏHowever, the top court has now stated that the matter may be scheduled for the first week of April.

🃏In light of the many interventions filed, the apex court has stated that no fresh pleas will be taken up, unless they are filed on fresh grounds.

ꦆ"Application for fresh interventions will be allowed given it raised some ground which is not raised as yet," the Bench was quoted as saying by Bar and Bench.

♏SC added that in the petitions challenging the Act in which no notice has been issued by the court, stand dismissed.

ꦕ"Pending writ petitions which has no notice stands dismissed with liberty to file application raising additional grounds," the Court said.

In December 2024, the Supreme Court 🅺halted proceedings in 18 lawsuits filed by Hindu groups seeking surveys in 10 mosques across India, including the disputes in Gyanvapi, Shahi Idgah Masjid, and Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal.

♔However, after this order, new petitions were filed by many organisations seeking enforcement or challenging the 1991 law.