Ssangeeta Sharma
New Delhi, Oct 12 (LAB) The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Union of India on a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.
The Bench of Chief Justice U.U. Lalit, Justice Ravindra Bhat and Justice Ajay Rastogi agreed to hear on November 14, the petitions challenging those parts of the Act, which barred remedies against illegal encroachment on the places of worship and pilgrimages prior to August 15, 1947.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed the Central government to file a response within two weeks.
Advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind supporting the Act, told the Bench today that no such response had been filed so far by the Centre.
Representing the Central government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that the reply was still under consideration and another two weeks were required for the same.
CJI UU Lalit, while observing that the stand of the Central Government was relevant when the validity of legislation was challenged, granted the Union of India time till October 31st to file a response.
Representing the petitioner, Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi submitted that the law was passed without debate. He said that specific additional questions had been framed, which were not considered by the Supreme Court in the Ayodhya judgement, which upheld the Places of Worship Act.
Appearing as part-in-person, Dr Subramanian Swami submitted that the Centre should be asked to respond.
The CJI asked the Solicitor General what was his personal view regarding the impact of the Ayodhya verdict on the challenge.
The SG replied that the Ayodhya verdict may not be covered by that./ LAB/SNG