Challenge To Places Of Worship Act | "When Judges Rise To Occasion, History Is In Making": Kapil Sibal Hails Supreme Court

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Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal praised the Supreme Court for its vital role in safeguarding democracy, specifically its directive halting suits against existing religious structures, and addressing concerns over the misuse of Section 498A of the IPC. The court emphasized the need for balanced legal applications while granting the Centre time to respond to petitions against the Places of Worship Act.

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal lauded the Supreme Court on Friday (Dec 13th), emphasizing its critical role in preserving democracy. “When judges rise to the occasion, history is in the making. A derailed democracy must be brought back on track,” Sibal wrote in a post on X, praising the judiciary’s recent actions to address sensitive legal and social issues.

Sibal’s remarks followed the Supreme Court’s directive restraining courts from registering or advancing suits against existing religious structures. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justices PV Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan also halted the issuance of interim or final orders, including surveys, in pending cases.

“As the matter is sub-judice before this court, we deem it fit to direct that while suits may be filed, no suits would be registered, and proceedings undertaken till further orders of this court,”

the bench stated. This decision pertains to challenges to the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which bars legal action to reclaim or alter the character of places of worship as they existed on August 15, 1947.

Currently, 18 lawsuits against 10 mosques and shrines are pending nationwide. The bench granted the Centre four weeks to submit an affidavit on the petitions challenging provisions of the Act.

In another significant ruling, the Supreme Court expressed concern over the misuse of Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, which addresses cruelty against married women by husbands and their relatives.

A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and N Kotiswar Singh quashed a Section 498A case filed by a wife against her husband and in-laws, stating that the provision was being used as a tool for personal vendetta.