Introduced in Rajya Sabha on 28 December 1990

"2. After article 26 of the Constitution the following article shall be inserted, namely:

'26A. (1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, no religious denomination or any section thereof shall practise or manage its place of worship whether called Mandir, Masjid, Gurudwara, Shrine, Church or by any other name in a manner which shall alter the status, position, architecture, or construction of any such place as it existed on the fifteenth day of August one thousand nine hundred and forty-seven.

(2) Parliament may by law regulate all matters pertaining to such places of worship to maintain status quo in respect of them as they existed on the fifteenth day of August one thousand nine hundred and forty-seven.'"

Statement of Objects and Reasons

In our country a few Mandirs, Masjids, Gurudwaras and Churches have either been set up or renovated, expanded or their status quo has been changed after we achieved independence on 15th August 1947. In some cases, the change has resulted in worst communal hatred in the country. For instance, at the time of our independence the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple at Ayodhya was under lock and seal (factually incorrect- Editor) However, later the seal and lock were opened under an order of a court of law. This has resulted in spread of communal hatred in the country. The controversy is threatening the unity and integrity of the country. Had the status quo as on 15th August 1947 been maintained in respect of this, this country would have been saved from the present communal virus engulfing the nation itself. Still there is time to rectify matters and make a provision in the Constitution to maintain status quo of all religious places as on 15th August 1947.