Muslim Body Demands Supreme Court To Stop Lower Courts From Accepting Ajmer, Sambhal-Like Petitions
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has raised serious concerns over the growing trend of legal claims on mosques and dargahs across India, urging the Supreme Court to intervene and prevent lower courts from accepting such petitions.
The latest controversy surrounds a claim asserting that the historic Ajmer Dargah, a globally revered site, is the Sankat Mochan Mahadev Temple. The West Civil Court in Ajmer has admitted the petition, naming the Dargah Committee, the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, and the Archaeological Survey of India as respondents. This follows unresolved claims on other religious sites, including the Jama Masjid in Sambhal and the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi.
Dr S.Q.R. Ilyas, AIMPLB’s National Spokesperson, criticised the acceptance of such petitions, calling them a “mockery of the law and constitution.” He cited the Places of Worship Act, 1991, which mandates that the status of any place of worship as of 15 August 1947 cannot be altered. This law was enacted to prevent disputes over religious sites following the Babri Masjid case.
Dr Ilyas expressed dismay that, despite this legal safeguard, lower courts continue to entertain claims. Referring to the Supreme Court’s handling of the Gyanvapi Mosque case, he argued that its decision to allow a survey, despite the 1991 law, has encouraged further disputes, including recent claims on the Shahi Eidgah in Mathura and the Teele Wali Masjid in Lucknow.
He appealed to the Chief Justice of India to take immediate suo motu action, directing lower courts to adhere strictly to the Places of Worship Act. Dr Ilyas also urged the central and state governments to enforce the law firmly, warning that failure to do so could spark nationwide unrest.
The AIMPLB stressed that protecting the sanctity of religious sites is critical to maintaining communal harmony, cautioning that continued inaction could have severe consequences for India’s social fabric.
