SC to accord final hearing on pleas challenging Places of Worship Act

NEW DELHI: (Feb 18) The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to list for final hearing the pleas challenging the validity of certain provisions of a 1991 law which prohibit filing of a lawsuit to reclaim a place of worship or seek a change in its character from what prevailed on August 15, 1947.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi was urged by senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for PIL petitioner Ashwini Upadhyay, that the final hearing be accorded as the questions were framed way back on October 12, 2022.

The senior lawyer said the Centre, which was asked to file its response to the plea by October 31, 2022, is yet to submit its response.