SC Rejects PIL Seeking Equal Rights in Religious Place Management

The Supreme Court declined to entertain a PIL on Wednesday, which sought to grant Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs the right to establish, manage, and maintain their religious places, similar to Muslims, Parsis, and Christians. The court labeled the petition as “publicity-oriented litigation.”

A bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud stated that the matter falls under the domain of the legislature, and the court is not inclined to engage with it.

The court asked the petitioner, Mr. Upadhyay, to file a proper petition with more substantive prayers, indicating that the current petition was not maintainable. The court regarded it as “publicity-oriented litigation” and recommended that the petitioner withdraw it and file a petition with requests that could be granted.

The bench was hearing a plea filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, which also called for a uniform code for religious and charitable endowments. The plea referred to the control of government authorities over Hindu temples across the country, in contrast to individuals of certain religious beliefs who are allowed to manage their own institutions.

The petition, filed through advocate Ashwani Kumar Dubey, argued that the right to manage institutions provided under Article 26 is a natural right for all communities. However, it claimed that Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs have been denied this privilege, with approximately four lakh of around nine lakh Hindu temples across the country being under government control.

Additionally, the Supreme Court declined to entertain a petition by Hindu seer Swami Jeetendranand Saraswatee, which sought similar directions.