What does the Allahabad High Court say about determining the religious character of a place of worship
Explore the position of the Allahabad High Court on the decision-making process for determining the religious character of a place of worship.
The Allahabad High Court, in its verdict in the Ayodhya land dispute case in 2010, provided a judgement on determining the religious character of a place of worship. Here are the key points:
- The High Court stated that the character of a religious place must be determined based on the faith and belief of worshippers associated with it.
- It recognized that the existence of a pre-existing, historic building of worship creates a presumption of religious significance, but that alone may not suffice to establish the present character of the place.
- The court emphasized the need for corroborative evidence, such as continuous and unimpeded usage of the place for worship by a particular religious community.
- It noted that if a place of worship was abandoned and a new structure was constructed by a different religious community, the character of the place would change to reflect the present community's faith and belief.
- The court emphasized the importance of maintaining communal harmony in such matters and resolving disputes through dialogue and peaceful means.
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