Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct about the ‘Places of Worship Act, 1991’?
1. The Act provides state ownership over the management and affairs of some temples through
Governor-appointed nominees.
2. The provisions of the act do not apply to ancient and historical monuments and archaeological
sites and remains that are covered by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and
Remains Act, 1958.
Select the correct codes from below -
Explanation - The Act mandates that the character of all religious places of worship should be
maintained as it was on August 15, 1947, and no suit or proceedings shall lie in a court of law
with respect to the character of places of worship. This effectively barred courts from entertaining
cases which raise disputes over places of worship that existed as of August 15, 1947. The aim of
the Act was to freeze the status of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947. It was
also to provide for the maintenance of the religious character of such a place of worship as on that
day. It was intended to pre-empt new claims by any group about the past status of any place of
worship and attempts to reclaim the structures or the land on which they stood. It was hoped that
the legislation would help the preservation of communal harmony in the long run. These
provisions will not apply to -
• ancient and historical monuments and archaeological sites and remains that are covered by the
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958;
• a suit that has been finally settled or disposed of; and
• any dispute that has been settled by the parties or conversion of any place that tookplace by
acquiescence before the Act commenced
Explanation - The Act mandates that the character of all religious places of worship should be
maintained as it was on August 15, 1947, and no suit or proceedings shall lie in a court of law
with respect to the character of places of worship. This effectively barred courts from entertaining
cases which raise disputes over places of worship that existed as of August 15, 1947. The aim of
the Act was to freeze the status of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947. It was
also to provide for the maintenance of the religious character of such a place of worship as on that
day. It was intended to pre-empt new claims by any group about the past status of any place of
worship and attempts to reclaim the structures or the land on which they stood. It was hoped that
the legislation would help the preservation of communal harmony in the long run. These
provisions will not apply to -
• ancient and historical monuments and archaeological sites and remains that are covered by the
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958;
• a suit that has been finally settled or disposed of; and
• any dispute that has been settled by the parties or conversion of any place that tookplace by
acquiescence before the Act commenced
