WHAT IS THE POLITICS OF PLACES OF WORSHIP ACT? FAVOURITISM OR SECULAR SAFEGUARD?

The Act's attempt to address historical grievances through legislation reflects the complexities of using law to mediate deeply rooted cultural and religious issues.

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Shakespeare writes, "The law hath not been dead, though it hath slept." This reflects the ongoing discussions in India regarding the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which seeks to preserve the religious character of places of worship as they stood on August 15, 1947.

The Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act of 1991 is a pivotal piece of legislation in India's legal and socio-political landscape. Enacted during the tenure of Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, the Act seeks to preserve the religious character of places of worship as they existed on August 15, 1947, prohibiting any conversion of such places thereafter. This legislative measure was introduced amidst the escalating tensions of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, aiming to uphold secularism and maintain communal harmony in the country.

In the early 1990s, India witnessed a surge in religious and communal tensions, primarily centered around the Ayodhya dispute. The demolition of the Babri Masjid in December 1992 marked a significant escalation in these tensions. In response to the growing unrest, the central government introduced the Places of Worship Act in 1991. The primary objective was to freeze the status of all religious places as they stood on the day of India's independence, thereby preventing new disputes arising from historical grievances. Notably, the Act exempted the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site from its purview, acknowledging the ongoing legal proceedings and complexities associated with it.

PROVISIONS OF THE ACT

The Act comprises several key sections:

● Section 3: Prohibits the conversion of any place of worship from the religious denomination it held on August 15, 1947.