Allahabad High Court Upholds Survey of Shahi Jama Masjid Amid Places of Worship Act Dispute
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Shahi Jama Masjid Dispute & Places of Worship Act 1991 |
| Why in News? | The Allahabad High Court upheld a trial court's decision to appoint an advocate commissioner to survey the Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district. |
| Background | The dispute originated from a petition claiming the site was originally a Shri Harihar temple, allegedly demolished by Mughal emperor Babur in 1529. |
| Legal Status | The Shahi Jama Masjid is a protected monument under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904, and is listed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as a Monument of National Importance. |
| Places of Worship Act 1991 | The Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 aims to preserve the religious status of places of worship as of 15th August 1947, prohibiting changes to their religious character. |
| Key Provisions | - Section 3: Prohibits conversion of places of worship. <br> - Section 4(1): Freezes religious identity as of 15th August 1947. <br> - Section 4(2): Terminates ongoing legal proceedings. <br> - Section 5: Exempts Ayodhya dispute and certain cases. <br> - Section 6: Imposes penalties for violations. |
| Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) | ASI, under the Ministry of Culture, is responsible for archaeological research and heritage protection. It administers over 3650 monuments and sites of national importance. Founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham, known as the "Father of Indian Archaeology". |