Purpose of the Act

Enacted in 1991 by the Narasimha Rao government, the law aims to maintain the character of all religious places as they existed on August 15, 1947, preventing religious conversions of such places.

Section 2

Pending cases concerning changes in religious places on or before August 15, 1947, are to be closed.

Section 3

It strictly prohibits converting one religious place, fully or partially, into another faith’s worship site.

Section 4 (1)

Mandates that the religious character of a place of worship as of August 15, 1947, should remain unchanged.

Section 4 (2)

Stops all legal proceedings regarding disputes over religious places that were ongoing before the act came into force.

Section 5

Exempts the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute from the provisions of this act.

Penalty for Violation

Violators face up to three years of imprisonment along with fines.

When the Act Doesn’t Apply

Sites governed under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. Resolved disputes or cases settled before the act’s enforcement. Changes mutually agreed upon before the act's implementation.