'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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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
