Congress Objects to Introduction of Private Member’s Bill Seeking Repeal of Places of Worship Act

The Congress has taken strong objection to the introduction of a private member’s bill in the Rajya Sabha to repeal the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.

The Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Repeal Bill, 2022 was listed for introduction in the Upper House of Parliament on Friday by BJP member Harnath Singh Yadav. The House was adjourned for the day following uproar by opposition members over the Adani issue, hence the bill could not be taken up.

Congress MP Naseer Hussain gave a notice to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat objecting to the introduction of the Bill.

In his notice, Hussain said he objects to the bill as it adversely affects the social fabric of our society, shared life and age-old brotherhood and creates communal disharmony.

He said, “This bill is unconstitutional as it strikes at the very roots of the basic structure principle, the secular nature of our constitution.”

The Congress member said the enactment of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act has put an end to various issues related to places of worship.

“Hence, the collective wisdom of this very Parliament needs to be respected,” he added.

Hussain said that the Act has already been challenged in the Supreme Court through a writ petition and hence, the issue is sub-judice.

“Hence, any discussion related to this matter will only lead to obstruction of judicial proceedings. In his notice, Hussain said, “It has always been a convention respecting Parliament to respect the judiciary and not to take up such matters which are pending before the courts.”

The Act prohibits the conversion of any place of worship and provides for maintaining the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947.

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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)