Asaduddin Owaisi urges Prime Minister Narendra Modi to defend the sanctity of Places of Worship (special provisions) Act 1991

The Act of 1991 was enacted by Parliament to protect the character of places of worship as they stood on 15 August 1947. Mr. Asaduddin Owaisi in his letter said that when this law was introduced in Parliament, it was rightly stated to be a measure necessary to avoid controversies. He added, “It was enacted as a law with the hope that it would heal the wounds of the past and help restore communal amity and goodwill.”

He also sought to remind PM Modi that the Supreme Court while determining the Babri Masjid dispute had stated that by enacting the 1991 Act, the state had enforced its constitutional commitment and operationalized its constitutional obligation to uphold the principle of secularism which is part of the basic structure of the constitution.

“I request you to not let the executive take any view which deviates from the true spirit of Constitutionalism as reflected in the Hon’ble Supreme Court judgment as well as in the aims and objects of this legislation,” he implored.

Mr. Owaisi also said, that the Supreme Court observed that ‘constitutional morality’ is embedded in our constitutional system. “It is the basic rule which prevents institutions from turning tyrannical, warns against the fallibility of individuals in a democracy, checks state power, and safeguards minorities from the tyranny of the majority. This is now being put to test. I hope that the executive headed by you will act to uphold the ideal of constitutional morality and defend the Act of 1991,” he averred.

Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 seeks to maintain and protect the religious character of places of worship in India. An Act to prohibit conversion of any place of worship and to provide for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on the 15th day of August 1947, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

The Places of Worship Act 1991 was passed by parliament during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. The Act was introduced to promote peace, harmony, and brotherhood. The main objective of the Act is to maintain the religious character of any such place as it existed on the 15th day of August 1947 (at the time of Independence).

The act forbids conversion of any place of worship or changing the religious character of any place from its status at the time of Independence. The main purpose behind the Act was to check and control communal hatred and promote peace and harmony in the country.

The 1991 Act covered all disputed sites to which religious groups had raised a claim. The Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri case was excluded from the provision of the Act. Section 4(2) of the Act says that any legal proceeding with respect to the conversion of the religious character of any place of worship existing on August 15, 1947, pending before any court, shall be dropped and no fresh suit or legal proceeding shall be initiated.

Asaduddin Owaisi (born 13 May 1969) is an Indian politician, who is the President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).  He is a 4-time Member of Parliament (MP), representing the Hyderabad constituency in Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament. For years, he has been regularly listed among the 500 Most Influential Muslims in the world.