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The next date of hearing has been scheduled for February 2025 next year. To date, the Places of Worship Act exists – and it clearly prohibits any litigation that upsets the status quo and the mandate of Section 4 of the Act.
This intervention not only preserves legal stability but also helps safeguard the secular fabric of Indian society, ensuring that the rule of law prevails over divisive agendas.
Moreover, the court has taken action which should have been taken earlier by Justice Chandrachud in the Gyanvapi case. The Places of Worship Act is very clear in its intent and application, yet the absence of immediate judicial intervention in cases like Gyanvapi has allowed the litigation to spiral out of control, creating unnecessary communal conflict.
By now intervening decisively, the Court has strengthened legal clarity on this matter and provided much-needed guidance, which was lacking in the earlier proceedings. This step is a long-awaited step to ensure that the provisions of the Act are respected, thereby preventing further damage to the communal harmony of the country.
(Arib Uddin Ahmed is an advocate practicing at Allahabad High Court. He writes on various legal developments. This is an opinion, and the views expressed above are those of the author. The Quint Neither endorses nor is responsible for them.)
