Context:
ASI report on the existence of a Hindu temple prior to the construction of mosque.
Gyanvapi mosque:
- Location – Varanasi (close to Kashi Vishwanath temple)
- Built in – 1669
- Built by – Aurangzeb
- Issue –
- Saqib Khan’s book ‘Yasir Alamgiri’ mentioned that Aurangzeb had demolished an existing temple to build the mosque
- A petition demanding to worship in the temple of Mother Makeup Gauri inside
- Gyanvapi complexPetition filed under Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991
- Supreme court directed Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a survey
Places of Worship Act, 1991:
- Aim – To freeze the status of religious places of worship as they existed on August 15, 1947, and prohibits the conversion of any place of worship.
- Major Provisions of the Act –
- Prohibition of Conversion (Section 3) – Prevents the conversion of a place of worship, whether in full or part, from one religious’ denomination to another or within the same denomination.
- Maintenance of Religious Character (Section 4(1)) – Ensures that the religious identity of a place of worship remains the same as it was on August 15, 1947.
- Abatement of Pending Cases (Section 4(2)) – Any ongoing legal proceedings concerning the conversion of a place of worship’s religious character before August 15, 1947, will be terminated, and no new cases can be initiated.
- Exceptions to the Act (Section 5) – The Act does not apply to ancient and historical monuments, archaeological sites, and remains covered by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
- Excludes cases that have already been settled or resolved and disputes that have been resolved by mutual agreement or conversions that occurred before the Act came into effect.
- Does not extend to the specific place of worship known as Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid in Ayodhya
Source: The Indian Express
Previous Year Question
With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements:
1. White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri.
2. Red sandstone and marble were used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza in Lucknow.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2018 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect. Buland Darwaza is made of red and buff sandstone.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza are mainly built using bricks and then coated with lime.
