Overview

• The Supreme Court has barred lower courts from entertaining new cases related to the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, until its validity is determined.
• The 1991 Act prohibits altering the religious character of places of worship as they stood on August 15, 1947, with the exception of the Ayodhya dispute.
• This decision comes after recent judicial interpretations allowed surveys of sites like the Gyanvapi Mosque, leading to unrest and raising concerns about communal harmony.
• The court's ruling freezes 18 petitions seeking to challenge or reinterpret the Act, with the government given four weeks to respond.
• Legal experts and commentators highlight the importance of the Act in preserving India's secular framework and preventing historical grievances from reigniting conflicts.