'The Hindu' on Sambhal Mosque violence: A call for judicial restraint, harmony
The recent violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district, which claimed four lives, has once again underscored the dangers of communal discord fueled by contentious litigation and controversial court orders. The unrest erupted following a motivated legal suit aimed at altering the status of a place of worship, leading to a questionable ex parte order by a local court and subsequent violent protests. The Supreme Court of India has intervened to maintain peace and has directed the lower court to halt proceedings until the Allahabad High Court hears the mosque committee's challenge to the survey order. This intervention, as highlighted in The Hindu editorial, has brought some relief amidst the heightened tension.
According to the editorial, the controversy centers around the 16th-century Shahi Jama Masjid in Chandausi. The local court’s order to conduct a survey of the mosque, issued without hearing the mosque management committee, sparked outrage among local residents, who viewed it as an attempt to convert the mosque into a temple. The editorial notes that the violence, which coincided with the second survey, resulted in the deaths of four people. While police claim that firearms used by the protesters caused the fatalities, residents allege it was due to police firing.
The Hindu points out that such incidents are part of a troubling pattern of action by aggressive proponents of Hindutva ideology. Claims that numerous mosques were built after destroying Hindu temples have led to a series of legal attempts to alter the religious identity of these structures. The editorial draws attention to how courts, influenced by precedents in similar cases from Varanasi and Mathura, have frequently issued orders permitting surveys of disputed sites without first determining the legal admissibility of such suits.
This practice, the editorial argues, undermines the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which prohibits altering the status of places of worship as of August 15, 1947. The Act also bars filing lawsuits aimed at changing the religious character of such sites. The editorial links these developments to an observation by former Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, suggesting that the Act does not preclude assessing the religious character of a place as it stood on the cutoff date. This interpretation, The Hindu implies, has emboldened individuals to pursue ill-motivated claims.
Additionally, the Shahi Jama Masjid is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, which prohibits its use for purposes inconsistent with its historical and religious significance. This legal protection, however, appears to have been ignored in the rush to entertain the claims of the litigants.
The editorial emphasizes the broader implications of such cases, warning that judicial actions that permit questionable suits risk stoking communal tensions and undermining societal harmony. It calls for greater caution from the judiciary in entertaining claims that challenge the established status of religious places and stresses the need to uphold peace and constitutional values in such sensitive matters.
As highlighted by The Hindu, incidents like these serve as a sobering reminder of the need for collective efforts to maintain communal harmony and safeguard the secular fabric of the nation.
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Cristiano Ronaldo scores his 100th Saudi Pro League goal
Riyadh (AP): Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 100th Saudi Pro League goal as Al-Nassr beat Al-Shabab 4-2 to move five points clear at the top of the table.
The 41-year-old forward converted a Sadio Mané cross at the near post with 15 minutes remaining to record the 971st goal of his career on Thursday. It was also his 26th league goal of the season.
“Ronaldo is always dangerous going forward and we saw that again today,” Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jesus said.
João Félix, signed from Chelsea in July, scored three goals for the league leaders.
The win took Al-Nassr to 82 points from 32 games, five ahead of Al-Hilal, which has three matches, one more than Nassr, left to play. Al-Hilal meets Al-Kholood on Friday and faces Nassr on Tuesday in what could be a title decider against its Riyadh rival.
“Now we have a derby match against our rival, which is a difficult encounter,” Jesus said.
“We are fully aware of its importance, and we are dealing with it with complete focus as we know that small details could decide the result.”
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, has yet to secure a major trophy in Saudi Arabia since signing with Al-Nassr in December 2022.
