SC bars new suits under Places of Worship Act, stops courts from passing orders in pending cases

The Supreme Court on Thursday barred trial courts from passing interim or final orders, including survey directions, in pending lawsuits concerning the religious character of places of worship, Live Law reported. It also said that no new suits can be registered in any court across the country until further orders.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice KV Viswanathan issued the interim order while hearing a clutch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the 1991 Places of Worship Special Provisions Act.

The Act does not allow any changes to the religious character of a place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947.

“As the matter is sub-judice before this court, we deem it appropriate to direct that while suits may be filed, no suits would be registered and proceedings undertaken till further orders of this court,” the bench said on Thursday. “We also direct that in the pending suits, the courts would not pass any effective interim orders or final orders, including orders of survey till the next date of hearing.”

The order comes amid growing concerns about the increasing number of lawsuits by Hindu parties claiming ownership of mosques and dargahs.

In November, violence erupted between Hindu and Muslim groups after a trial court ordered...

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