India’s history is marked by the peaceful coexistence of different religious sites all over the country, fostering a sense of unity and harmony among people. But in recent years, communal riots and tensions have been on the surge, depicting an erosion in the nation’s social tapestry. The diversity of India, which was once considered as the marker of India’s unity, now faces a grim reality of fractured unity with the religious sites transforming into arenas of tensions.
In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of petitions, mostly by the Hindu right-wing parties claiming that the mosque and other Islamic structures were built on the demolished Hindu religious sites. In 1991, a group of Hindu mob pulled down the Babri masjid claiming that the mosque stood on the place where Lord Ram was born, leading to many religious animosity. Similarly, people claimed for the Gyanvapi masjid that it was built on a Hindu temple. And now, a local Hindu group has filed a petition for Shahi Jama Masjid located in Uttar Pradesh, advocating that it is a Hindu temple.
Shahi Jama Masjid
Source- Times of India
Controversy
A trial court, acting on a petition issued by the Hindu group, on November 19 ordered a survey of the mosque premises. When on the second day of the survey, the group authorities reached the mosque without informing the mosque authorities, local Muslims tried to resist it leading to turmoil. The local police took measures to suppress the protest and opened fire, killing four Muslims and injuring many others.
The Places of Worship Act
The Places of Worship Act of 1991 is the fundamental part of India’s secular framework. It states that no person shall convert any religious institution into any other religious institution or section of the same institution. It means that the nature of religious institution shall not be altered, and it should remain same as existed on 15 August, 1947. Along with the conversion, it also sets bar on any legal proceedings. This was done with the intention of maintaining the secular fabric of India.
Failure of the Judiciary
In light of the recent events, we can see how the judiciary has failed to uphold the ‘Places of Worship Act of 1991.’ It was formed in order to protect India’s secular character. The judiciary’s failure to enforce the law leads to the weakening of secularism which is one of the most fundamental part of India’s Constitution and a paramount aspect of Indian society.
If these issues continue to persist, it could lead to the possibility of exacerbation of the already fragile social fabric of India. India faces a lot of deep divisions in her social structure, including persistent caste system, and any other fragmentation would only worsen the situation. Additionally, the manipulation of such issues in political narrative could have further dangerous ramifications. Should the judiciary fail to address this issue with the seriousness it warrants, it could lead to the perpetuation of this into other religious structures, destabilizing India’s pluralistic identity.
