Supreme Court restrains courts from passing orders on pleas seeking mosque surveys

The directive came from a special bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, which clarified that trial courts cannot “overreach” the Supreme Court while it adjudicates on challenges to the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.

“As the matter is subjudice before this court, we deem it fit to direct that no fresh suits shall be registered, or proceedings be ordered. In the pending suits, courts would not pass any effective or final orders, including the orders of survey, till this court decides the matter,” ordered the bench, which also included justices PV Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan.

The directive comes amid a surge in litigation initiated by Hindu groups seeking the reclamation of alleged historical temple sites, prompting a host of legal proceedings in district and high courts. These disputes have sparked significant controversy and conflicting orders, amplifying political and communal tensions across the country. Despite the significance of the issue, the matter had seen little progress in the Supreme Court over the last two years.