Chandrachud's oral observations on Places of Worship Act have opened pandora's box: Jairam Ramesh

Congress leader highlights relevance of 1991 Places of Worship Act due to recent oral observations by Chief Justice Chandrachud.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday (November 30, 2024) said the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 is in the news these days because of certain oral observations made in 2022 by then Chief Justice of India D. Y. Chandrachud that have since opened a "pandora's box".

The Congress general secretary in-charge communications recalled a speech delivered in 1991 by distinguished author Rajmohan Gandhi, who was then a Janata Dal MP representing Uttar Pradesh, during a debate in the Rajya Sabha on the Bill that subsequently became the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act.

"On September 12, 1991, the Rajya Sabha debated the Bill that subsequently became the Places of Worship [Special Provisions] Act, 1991. This is in the news very much these days because of oral observations made by the just-retired Chief Justice of India D. Y. Chandrachud on May 20, 2022, that has since opened a Pandora's Box," Mr. Ramesh said in a post on X.

During that parliamentary debate, perhaps one of the greatest speeches in the Rajya Sabha's history was made by Mr. Gandhi, he said.

"It was a masterclass in Indian culture, traditions, history, and politics as well. His brilliant speech, with that lovely excerpt from the Mahabharata, has continuing relevance," Mr. Ramesh said.

The Congress leader also posted screenshots of Mr. Gandhi's speech, in which he said "those who have opposed this Bill have spoken about what they call necessary to right the wrongs of history".

"Not long ago, we all saw the Mahabharata serial. One great point in the Mahabharata serial is the end of the Kurukshetra war. One of our distinguished members, Mr R. K. Narayan, in his book on the 'Mahabharata' has said that at the end of the Kurukshetra war, the stage is a blank," Mr. Gandhi had said in the Rajya Sabha.