Places of Worship Act, 1991: A hearing on the Places of Worship Act, 1991 was held in the Supreme Court on Wednesday (18 December). This law has currently become one of the most discussed issues in the country. Let us know what the Place of Worship Act is and what its provisions say.
What does the Places of Worship Act, 1991 say?
According to this law implemented in 1991, a place of worship of any religion built before August 15, 1947 cannot be converted into a place of worship of any other religion. If someone violates this law, he can be fined and jailed for up to three years. This law was brought by the then Congress Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao government when the issue of Babri Masjid and Ayodhya was very hot in the country.
section 2:
Section 2 says that if any petition is pending in the court for changes in any religious place existing on 15 August 1947, it will be closed.
section 3:
According to this section, it is not allowed to convert any religious place completely or partially to any other religion. It has also been ensured that the place of worship of one religion is not changed to another religion or to a different section of the same religion.
Section 4(1):
Section 4(1) says that a place of worship shall have the same character as it had on 15 August 1947.
Section 4(2):
Section 4(2) talks about stopping those suits and legal proceedings which were pending on the date of coming into force of this law.
Section 5:
There is a provision in Section 5 that this Act will not apply to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case and any case, appeal or proceeding related to it.
What is the motive behind the law?
This law was made at a time when the Ram Mandir movement was at its peak. Due to this, controversies started increasing in other temples and mosques of the country also. To stop this, the then Narasimha Rao government had brought this law.
Penalty
The Places of Worship Act applies equally to everyone. There is a provision of three years of jail and fine for those who violate this.
