New Delhi [India], December 12 : AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday termed the Supreme Court's order as a "correct" and "good decision" after the court restrained all courts in the country from passing any effective interim or final orders, including survey orders, in pending suits against existing religious structures.
Speaking to ANI, Owaisi emphasised that the objective of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, was to prevent instability and riots in the country and ensure peace.
"What we can see now, especially what happened in Sambhal, is that a case was filed in one day, and the order was granted within 1.5 hours. A survey was conducted, violence ensued, and five innocent Muslims were killed in police firing. Today, the Supreme Court has said no further surveys will be held until the hearing is complete. This is a correct and good decision," he said.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justices PV Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan also ordered that no fresh suits can be registered over such claims while the court is hearing pleas challenging the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.
"As the matter is sub judice before this court, we deem it fit to direct that while suits may be filed, no suits would be registered or proceedings undertaken until further orders of this court. In the pending suits, courts would not pass any effective interim or final orders, including orders of survey," the bench stated.
Further, commenting on the 'One Nation, One Election' bill, which received the Union Cabinet's approval on Thursday, the AIMIM Chief said the initiative was against India's federal structure.
"Our party had approached the former President to express our opposition to 'One Nation, One Election' because it undermines India's federalism, which is part of the basic structure of the Constitution. If elections are held every six months, governments, influenced by votes, may change their policies and announce new schemes. This will weaken regional parties, as the issues in Assembly elections differ from those in Lok Sabha elections," Owaisi said.
The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the 'One Nation, One Election' bill, marking a significant step towards unifying the electoral process.
A comprehensive bill is expected to follow, paving the way for simultaneous Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections across the nation.