Now Reading: Allahabad High Court: Places of Worship Act does not bar state land grab
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Allahabad High Court: Places of Worship Act does not bar state land grab
Allahabad High Court: Places of Worship Act does not bar state land grab
The Allahabad High Court has ruled that the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 only prohibits conversion of a place's religious character, not the state from acquiring such property for secular,…
The Story in Brief
The Allahabad High Court has ruled that the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 only prohibits conversion of a place's religious character, not the state from acquiring such property for secular, public purposes. A bench of Justices J J Munir and Arun Kumar dismissed a petition challenging the widening and beautification of Dalmandi in Varanasi, part of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor project.
The court held that the Act's bar on conversion of religious character does not extend to compulsory acquisition for legitimate public works. The petitioners had argued the acquisition would alter the area's religious character. The ruling allows the Uttar Pradesh government to proceed with the project on land that includes properties adjacent to the temple complex.
The Indian Opinion
This judgment cuts through a lazy narrative that any state action near a religious site is an attack on that faith. The Act's plain text prohibits only conversion of a place's religious denomination, not all government use. Those who shout 'conversion' at every acquisition should read the law. The real test will be how the state uses this power, will the widened roads genuinely serve pilgrims, or just tourism revenue? Watch the rehabilitation of displaced shopkeepers.
Sources (2): livelaw.in, livelaw.in (2)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
