Gujarat Government shall not use tax payers' money for rebuilding mosques damaged in 2002 riots: Supreme Court
Earlier, the Gujarat HC had directed the state government to use taxpayers’ money to restore and rebuild religious sites, in particular mosques, damaged in the 2002 riots.
A bench of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and Justice P C Pant said that the Gujarat High Court order that the Government use taxpayers' money to restore and rebuild the shrines, particularly mosques, is not tenable in law.
“The protection of property and places of worship is an essential part of secularism. The freedom of the individual in this regard has to be respected and there has to be tolerance for each other,” the top court said.
"The stand of the State is that keeping in view the concept of secularism and the role of the State, it is inappropriate to direct the State to spend the amount from the exchequer for these purposes. In this context, as stated earlier, Article 27 becomes relevant," it said.
The bench was hearing an appeal by the Gujarat Government against the High Court order, asking the state to quantify the damage caused to religious places during the 2002 riots and disburse money to rebuild them.
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