Religious Worship Act 1991: With a furor of petitions seeking survey of religious places to determine their true religious character, the focus is back on the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. The Religious Worship Act 1991 bars conversion of any place of worship and provides for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on the 15th day of August, 1947.
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Why is Religious Worship Act 1991 in News?
The controversial Religious Worship Act 1991 is in news because of the ongoing Gyanvapi Masjid Case, where allegedly a shivling was found during a videography survey of the Mosque premises. The Supreme Court of India while hearing a plea challenging the videography survey on May 17, 2022 directed the Varanasi District Magistrate to protect the area where the alleged ‘shivling’ was discovered without impeding the right of Muslims to enter and worship. The court is scheduled to hear the matter again on May 20th.
The plea has been filed by the Committee of Management of Anjuman Intezamia Masjid and it contended that allowing the videography survey was contrary to provisions of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act 1991. The Gyanvapi Masjid videography survey was completed on May 16. While the Hindu side claims that a ‘Shivling’ was found inside a reservoir in the mosque complex, the Muslim side dismisses the claim saying that it is only a fountain.
Read: What is Gyanvapi Masjid Case?
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What is Religious Worship Act 1991?
The Places of Religious Worship (Special Provisions) Act 1991, was brought into force on July 11, 1991 by the then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao during the peak of the Ram Mandir movement. The Act prohibits conversion of worship and to provide for the maintenance of religious character of any places of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947. It extends to the whole of India except for Jammu and Kashmir.
The act states that legal proceedings could be initiated if the change of religious character of the place of worship was done after August 15, 1947. It also does not apply to the Ram Janma Bhumi Babri Masjid Case.
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Religious Worship Act 1991: Key Provisions
Section 3- Bar conversion of places of worship: Under the Act, no person shall convert any place of worship of any
religious denomination or any section thereof into a place of worship of a different section of the same
religious denomination or of a different religious denomination or any section thereof.
Section 4- Declaration as to the religious character of certain places of worship and bar of jurisdiction
of courts.
1. The Act declares that the religious character of a place of worship existing on August 15,1947 shall continue to be the same as it existed on that day.
2. The Act states that any suit, appeal or other proceeding with respect to the conversion of the religious character of any place of worship, existing on August 15, 1947 is pending before any court, tribunal or other authority, shall end with the commencement of the act. It also bars fresh appeals regarding the same.
Religious Worship Act 1991: Penalty
Violation of Section 3 of the Act shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term that may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.
What is known as Worship Act?
The worship act bars conversion of any place of worship into a place of worship of a different religion or even different section of the same religion.
What are the places of worship called?
Places of worship means temple, mosque, gurudwara, church, monastery or any other place of religious worship of any religious domination.
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