The Supreme Court emphasized the importance of respecting all religions on Wednesday while hearing a case concerning the preservation of Parasnath Hill, a sacred site for the Jain community.
A Bench of Justices CT Ravikumar and Sanjay Karol observed today that the case required a detailed hearing and adjourned the proceedings for a week. Before adjourning, Justice Karol expressed his hope to visit Parasnath Hill someday.
"I must inform you all one thing that I intend to visit that hill place. I hope that is not a problem of me hearing this case. I visit such places," Justice Karol said.
Justice Ravikumar added that he also visits such revered places, regardless of which religious community considers them sacred.
"Even I visit all these places irrespective of religion. As judges of the top court, we respect all religion and respect should be done for all of the faiths," Justice Ravikumar said.
The matter before the Supreme Court concerns the sanctity of Parasnath Hill, one of the most revered pilgrimage sites for the Jain community.
A Jain devotee, Darshanaben Nayanbhai Shah, has filed an application seeking urgent directions to halt activities that desecrate the holy site located in the Giridih district of Jharkhand.
The hill, also known as Shikharji, is considered the most sacred place of worship for Jains as it is believed that 20 of the 24 Tirthankaras (spiritual teachers), along with countless monks, attained nirvana (spiritual enlightenment) here.
Shah, a devout Jain, has raised concerns that tourist activities such as the construction of ropeways, shops, polling booths, schools, and the serving of meat in the area are threatening the sanctity of the hill.
The application, settled by Senior Advocates Darius Khambata and Gopal Sankaranarayanan, seeks to restrain the State of Jharkhand from permitting such activities, which are considered sacrilegious by the Jain community.
The matter is connected to a six-decade-long title dispute over the hill, following its acquisition in 1953 under the Bihar Land Reforms Act from the Jain community.
The Act, enacted under the Ninth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, is protected from judicial scrutiny.
Shah has been fasting for 30 years to advocate for the protection of the hill's sanctity.
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