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Ascertainment of religious character of place of worship not barred by 1991 Act: Supreme Court

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In an important observation, the Supreme Court on Friday orally observed that the ascertainment of the religious character of a place of worship is not barred by the Places of , 1991.

A bench, headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices Surya Kant and P.S. Narasimha said: “Ascertainment of religious character is not barred under Section 3 (of the Places of Worship Act, 1991).”

It told senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, representing the masjid committee: “Suppose there is a Parsi temple and there is a cross in the corner of the area. Does the presence of Agyari make the cross Agyari or Agyari Christian? This hybrid character is not unknown in India.”

Contesting it, Ahmadi replied that the religious character of the Gyanvapi mosque, on August 15, 1947, is not in dispute. However, counsel representing the Hindu parties insisted that is strongly in dispute.

As the bench further added that the ascertainment of the religious character of a place does not fall foul of the Section 3 and 4 of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, Ahmadi replied that if all these determinations are allowed to take place, the Act may become a dead letter.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Uttar Pradesh government, said that the Shivling should be protected.

According to Section 4 of the Act, the religious character of a place of worship existing on August 15, 1947 shall continue to be the same as it existed on that day. Section 3 of the Act says no person shall convert any place of worship of any religious denomination or any section thereof into a place of worship of a different section of the same religious denomination or of a different religious denomination or any section thereof.

Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Varanasi has opposed the suit relating to the Gyanvapi mosque, saying the civil court which is hearing the case is barred from doing so in view of the 1991 Act. The Supreme Court has asked the Varanasi District Judge to decide the suit.

Mumbai Press Exclusive News

The 612th Urs of Mahim Makhdoom Faqih Ali Mahimi will begin on November 28, and the festival will be held from December 5: Sohail Khandwani

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Mumbai: Mumbai The 612th Urs of Hazrat Makhdoom Faqih Ali Mahimi (may Allah have mercy on him) will be celebrated with utmost devotion and respect at Astana Makhdoom on November 28. A grand service will be held on November 28. The next day, on November 29, the eighth night and sandal will be presented. Along with this, a flag hoisting ceremony, a gathering of listeners and Quran recitation will also be held. The Dargah Committee has completed preparations for this. The Dargah has been decorated like a bride. In view of the Urs and the fair, the police have also made necessary security arrangements. Sohail Khandwani, Managing Trustee of the Dargah Committee, said that in the backdrop of the Urs and fair, the Dargah administration has made necessary arrangements. A grand service will be held at Astana Makhdoom on November 28 and a grand night flag hoisting ceremony, a gathering of listeners and Quran recitation will be held on November 29. The pilgrims are appealed to attend Astana Makhdoom with due respect. He said that the police and the Dargah administration jointly make security arrangements. Along with this, the annual fair will also be held on December 5. The first sandal will be presented by the police and the festival will continue till December 14. In view of this, the traffic police has also shifted the traffic route. Food stalls and entertainment are also available in the festival. The police perform 24-hour services and duties for the festival. Along with this, volunteers of the dargah are also assigned with the police. Police are also deployed on the premises of the dargah including traffic control. Sohail Khandwani has appealed to the sandal committee to take care of Sharia matters during the sandal presentation and not to violate noise and noise pollution and to present sandal at the dargah with courtesy and respect. The annual festival of Mumbai Police will start from December 5. The police is also ready for this. Sohail Khandwani said that the police have a lot of devotion to Baba, therefore they make the arrangements of the dargah with dedication and the police manage it well even in the face of a crowd.

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Maharashtra

Shiv Sena wave in North Maharashtra, Dr. Shrikant Shinde takes charge of election campaign

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Mumbai Nandurbar: Shiv Sena is on a wave in North Maharashtra. A large number of “Ladli Bheenas” and youth are participating in the rallies of Shiv Sena youth leader Dr. Shrikant Shinde. Dr. Shinde launched his election campaign in North Maharashtra today. Addressing the gathering, he said that the Mahayoti government has taken strong steps to empower women and youth, which is why Maharashtra’s Ladli Behna Yojana is becoming self-reliant. Attacking the opposition, he said that many opposition leaders were opposing the “Ladli Behna Yojana” but under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, this scheme was implemented and it will not be stopped under any circumstances. The opposition is only spreading confusion, Ladli Behna will respond with their votes. Dr. Shrikant Shinde explained that in the last three years, Shiv Sena has reached every corner of Maharashtra under the leadership of Eknath Shinde. Shinde Sahib is empowering his workers by holding eight meetings every day. He has an Urban Development Department, which has resulted in record-breaking funding for the backward villages of Maharashtra, paving the way for strong rural development.

Dr. Shrikant Shinde criticized UBT and said that some people are experts in criticizing, but they have never done any concrete work for the people. That is why today Mahayoti candidates are seen everywhere. The people are well aware of the state of the opposition.

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Maharashtra

Kalyan College Namaz Controversy: SIO Demands Action Against Perpetrators

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Mumbai: SIO has demanded strict action against the hooliganism of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad on offering prayers in Mumbai’s Kalyan College. Here, State Secretary SIO Aziz Ahmed said that
The incident that took place at Ideal College of Pharmacy and Research in Kalyan is highly condemnable and unacceptable, where hooligans belonging to Bajrang Dal entered the college campus, threatened and harassed Muslim students for offering prayers and even tried to make them sit in front of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This incident is a direct attack on religious freedom and the sanctity of the educational campus.

SIO strongly condemns this incident and expresses complete solidarity with the affected students. We demand that strict action be taken against the accused at the earliest, the college administration ensure the safety of the students and take concrete steps to prevent such incidents in the future.

We appeal to the entire student community to maintain religious harmony and remain united against such sectarian attitudes and demonstrate strong solidarity.

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