Revanchist Suits and Places of Worship in India

• Revanchist suits against places of worship have led to violent protests in Uttar Pradesh, resulting in the deaths of four people.

• The Supreme Court of India has urged peace and harmony, preventing the trial judge from proceeding with a Hindutva proponents’ suit until the Allahabad High Court hears the mosque committee’s opinion on the survey order’s validity.

• The court has also directed that the report prepared by an Advocate-Commissioner appointed by the civil court to survey the Shahi Jama Mosque at Chandausi be kept sealed.

• The incident is part of a pattern of aggressive Hindutva proponents who claim mosques were built after destroying Hindu temples and seek to alter their religious character.

• Courts have been allowing the wilful violation of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which freezes the status of places of worship as of August 15, 1947, and bars suits aimed at changing their status.

• The lesson is not just to be wary of revanchist suits, but also to recognize that such developments have negative consequences for peace and harmony.