The All India Muslim Private Legislation Board (AIMPLB) on Thursday expressed “deep concern and anguish” over petitions in courts claiming the presence of Hindu temples in Islamic locations of worship, saying such claims are a blatant mockery of the legislation and the Structure. The physique appealed to Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna to take suo motu motion and direct decrease courts to chorus from “opening doorways to any additional disputes”.
AIMPLB’s assertion got here a day after a neighborhood court docket in Ajmer issued notices over a plea claiming a temple contained in the world-renowned Ajmer Sharif Dargah.
“The All India Muslim Private Legislation Board (AIMPLB) has expressed deep concern and anguish over the latest spate of claims on mosques and dargahs in varied courts throughout the nation. Following the unresolved subject of Sambhal’s Jama Masjid, a brand new declare has emerged, asserting that the world-renowned Ajmer Dargah is the Sankat Mochan Mahadev Temple. Sadly, the West Civil Court docket in Ajmer has accepted this petition for listening to and issued notices to the events concerned. The complainant has named the Dargah Committee, the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, and the Archaeological Survey of India as respondents,” the physique mentioned within the assertion.
“Dr. S.Q.R. Ilyas, the Nationwide Spokesperson for AIMPLB, said in a press assertion that such claims are a blatant mockery of the legislation and the structure, particularly in gentle of the existence of the Locations of Worship Act, 1991. This legislation, enacted by Parliament, clearly specifies that the standing of anyplace of worship as of August 15, 1947, shall stay unchanged and can’t be challenged. The intent was clear to stop any additional focusing on of mosques or different non secular locations following the Babri Masjid case,” the assertion added.
The Muslim physique identified that regardless of the legislation, the court docket accepted the petition in Ajmer.
“Nevertheless, it’s deeply unlucky and shameful that after the claims on Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, Shahi Eidgah in Mathura, Bhojshala Mosque in Madhya Pradesh, Teele Wali Masjid in Lucknow, and Sambhal Jama Masjid, a declare has now been made on the historic Ajmer Dargah. Regardless of the legislation, the court docket has accepted Vishnu Gupta’s petition for listening to and issued notices to the events. The petitioner alleges that the land of the dargah was initially a temple devoted to Lord Shiva, the place worship and rituals like Jal Abhishek had been carried out,” it added.
The Muslim physique mentioned that in the course of the Babri Masjid case, the Supreme Court docket of India not solely referred to this legislation but in addition said that no new claims may very well be entertained after the enactment of this legislation.
“But, when the decrease court docket accepted the declare on Gyanvapi Mosque, the Muslim facet approached the Supreme Court docket, arguing that such a declare shouldn’t be entertained given the Locations of Worship Act. The court docket, nonetheless, softened its stance and allowed the survey, stating it didn’t violate the 1991 legislation. This has led to subsequent claims on Shahi Eidgah in Mathura, Teele Wali Masjid in Lucknow, and now the Jama Masjid in Sambhal and Ajmer Dargah,” it added.
Violence erupted in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal on Sunday throughout a court-ordered survey of a mosque to establish the presence of a Hindu temple. 4 individuals died within the clashes and scores had been injured.
