The development came on a petition filed by seven lawyers claiming to be Sanatan Dharma followers who claimed that their right to practice their religion got affected due to the law.
After a gap of 25 years, the Supreme Court on Friday decided to have a fresh look at the validity of a Central law of 1993 by which land in and around the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masid disputed site was acquired by the Centre. The development came on a petition filed by seven lawyers claiming to be Sanatan Dharma followers who claimed that their right to practice their religion got affected due to the law.
It was in October, 1994, when a Constitution bench of the Supreme Court considered the validity of the 1993 law titled ‘Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act’.
The law was upheld then. But the fresh petition claimed to raise new grounds of challenge that were not considered in the M Ismail Faruqui case of October 24, 1994. They argued that the Centre cannot acquire state land, particularly when the structures that stood within the acquired area of 67.703 acre were not monuments of national importance.
The petition termed the law unconstitutional as it took away the right of Hindus to worship at the temples situated within the acquired tract of land. These included the structures of Manas Bhawan, Sankat Mochan Mandir, Ram JanmasthanTemple, Katha Mandap, Sita Ki Rasoi and Janki Mahal.
“As a result of acquisition the worship of deity at those places have been stopped... The Union or the States have no power to stop puja and other religious activities at such places as it violates the right of citizens under Article 25,” the petitioners argued. The bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna issued notice on the petition and posted the same for hearing along with related matters heard by a Constitution bench. At present, the suits filed by the Hindu and Muslim parties to the disputed site are pending consideration with a five-judge Constitution Bench.
Blast From Past
- It was in October, 1994, when the SC considered the validity of the 1993 law titled ‘Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act’
- The suits filed by the Hindu & Muslim parties to the disputed site are pending consideration with a five-judge Constitution Bench
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