As judges of the top court, we respect all religions: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Wednesday called ensuring respect for all religions, while hearing a case concerning the preservation of Parasnath Hill which is revered as a sacred place by the Jain community [Shri Shripalbhai Rasiklal Shah Uday and ors vs Ganpat Rai Jain and ors]..A Bench of Justices CT Ravikumar and Sanjay Karol today observed that the case needed to be heard in detail and adjourned the hearing by a week. However, before doing so, Justice Karol disclosed that he hopes to visit the Parasnath Hill one day. "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 even he 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 top court concerns the sanctity of Parasnath Hill, one of the most revered pilgrimage sites for the Jain community.A Jain devotee named 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 flagged concern that tourist activities like making of ropeways, shops, polling booths as well as schools, and serving of meat in the area was 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 allowing such activities that are considered sacrilegious to Jains.The matter is linked to a six-decade-long title dispute over the hill after it was acquired in 1953 under the Bihar Land Reforms Act from the Jain community.The Act, which was enacted under the ninth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, enjoys freedom from judicial scrutiny.Shah, has been fasting for 30 years for his demands towards safeguarding the nature of the hill.