The Mathura Idgah Committee has filed a firm response to the 33-year-old challenge questioning the applicability of the Places of Worship (POW) Act, asserting that the law has stood the test of time. The committee presented its argument before the Supreme Court, maintaining that the POW Act, which seeks to preserve the status quo of religious places as they were on August 15, 1947, remains constitutionally valid.
The challenge, filed after over three decades, specifically questioned whether the POW Act applies to the Mathura Idgah, a mosque in Mathura. However, the committee argued that the law has been repeatedly upheld by the courts and continues to serve its purpose of preserving the sanctity of religious places, ensuring that no religious site undergoes forcible conversion.
In its submission, the committee urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the challenge, citing the Act’s historical significance in maintaining religious harmony and its robust defense in previous legal battles. The legal fight over the POW Act has been ongoing, with its implications affecting several religious sites across the country.
The Mathura Idgah Committee’s response comes at a time when the fate of the 33-year-old challenge could set a legal precedent for future cases related to the Places of Worship Act. The Supreme Court’s ruling on this matter is expected to shape the future of religious disputes surrounding sites of worship in India.
