CPI MP D. Raja Welcomes Allahabad High Court’s Verdict on Shahi Eidgah Case, Emphasizes Protection of Places of Worship Act, 1991

New Delhi: Reacting to the Allahabad High Court’s decision to dismiss the petition seeking to declare the Shahi Eidgah mosque a “disputed structure,” Communist Party of India (CPI) MP D. Raja described the verdict as “positive.”

D. Raja stated,
“This is a positive decision, as we have consistently maintained that the Places of Worship Act, 1991 must not be diluted. It must be upheld in its entirety. The stance taken by the Allahabad High Court is welcome.”

He further said that religious places should not be turned into subjects of political gain, and that courts must deliver judgments strictly in accordance with the Constitution and the law. His remarks are being seen as a pointed message from the Opposition, urging the government and certain groups not to undermine the 1991 legislation.

It is worth noting that under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, the religious character of a place of worship as it existed on 15 August 1947 must be maintained and cannot be altered.

The court’s decision has drawn mixed reactions from various political and social quarters.