QUTUB MINAR NOT A PLACE OF WORSHIP

1. QUTUB MINAR NOT A PLACE OF WORSHIP:ASI SYLLABUS SECTION: GS I (Art and Architecture) WHY IN NEWS? Recently, the Archaeological Survey of India in its response to civil suit, submittedthat the Qutub Minar complex is not a place of worship and its character cannot be changednow. • Issue: • A civil suit was submitted to Delhi Court, claiming that 27 temples were demolished to build the QuwwatulIslam mosque at the Qutub Minarcomplex. • This suit was dismissed last year under the provisions of Places of Worship ( Special Provision ) Act,1991. • The original suit based on the fact of 1991 Act was said wrong as the Qutub Minar complex comes under the purview of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act of 1958. • For Good Results in Mains Answer Writing for UPSC: Mains AnswerWriting • ASIResponse: • The Qutub Minar complex was not a place of worship when it was first notified asa • protected monument in1914. • According to ASI, the character of a monument is decided on the date when it comes underprotection. • Following this, objections from the public are invited for twomonths. • The petitioner cannot at this juncture seek to change the character of the monument. • Archaeological Survey of India(ASI)

2. It was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham- the first Director-General ofASI. • ASI works under the Ministry of Culture. • He is also known as the “Father of IndianArchaeology”. • This is premier organization for the archaeological research and protection of the cultural heritage of thenation. • Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991: • Aim: The act prohibits conversion of any place of worship and to provide for the 'maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on the 15th day' of August, 1947, and for matters connected therewith or incidental. • Exception: Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, which was already in court. • Section 3: Bar of conversion of places of worship. No person shall convert any place of worship of any religious denomination or any section thereof into a place of worship of a different section of the same religious denomination or of a different religious denomination or any sectionthereof • Section 4(2): All suits, appeals or other proceedings regarding converting the character of a place of worship (that were pending on 15th August, 1947) will come to end when the Act commences and no fresh proceedings can befiled. • If the change of status took place after 15th August, 1947 (after enactment of the Act), then the legal proceedings can beinitiated. • It also imposes an obligation on the State to maintain the religious character of every place of worship as it existed at the time ofIndependence. • Exemptions: • The disputed site at Ayodhya wasexempted. • Ancient and historical monument or an archaeological site covered by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 alsoexempted. • Any dispute that has been settled by the parties or conversion of any place that took place by acquiescence before the Actcommenced. • Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act,1958: • Under this Act The Archaeological Survey ofIndia • An Act to provide for the preservation of ancient and historical monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance. for the regulation of archaeological excavations and for the protection of sculptures, carvings and other like objects. • It extends to the whole ofIndia. • This Act prohibits the construction in ‘prohibited areas’, an area of100 • meters around protected monuments. (Note: The area can be extended beyond 100 meters by the centralgovernment.) • Even if the construction is related to public purposes, the construction is not permitted in the prohibited areas, except under certainconditions.