"I respect all religions": CJI BR Gavai on controversy over comments in Vishnu idol case

Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai on Thursday briefly addressed the controversy sparked by a comment he recently made while refusing to entertain a plea to restore of a 7-foot beheaded ancient idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari temple in Madhya Pradesh. .A comment asking the litigant to pray to the deity for a solution had sparked backlash, with some quarters terming the remark as being hurtful to Hindu sentiments. However, CJI Gavai today assured that he meant no disrespect."I respect all religions...This happened on social media," he said. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta observed that reactions to events often get blown out of proportion on social media. "We have seen this...There is Newton's law which says every action has equal reaction, but now every action has disproportionate social media reaction, milord," he said. .The comment in focus was made on September 16, after the Court noted that the question of whether the Vishnu idol should be restored lay within the domain of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and not the Court. The temple in which the idol is located is part of the UNESCO-listed Khajuraho group of monuments.“Go and ask the deity itself to do something now. You say you are a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. So go and pray now. It’s an archaeological site and ASI needs to give permission etc. Sorry,” CJI Gavai had told the petitioner while declining to intervene in the matter. .The petition filed by one Rakesh Dalal claimed that the idol was mutilated during Mughal invasions and has remained in that state despite repeated representations to the government to restore it.It recounted the history of the Khajuraho temples, originally built by the Chandravanshi kings, and alleged that both colonial neglect and post-independence inaction had left the idol unrepaired even 77 years after independence.The petitioner argued that the refusal to restore the idol violated devotees’ fundamental right to worship. The petition also highlighted protests, memoranda and campaigns in relation to the temple that went unanswered.Senior Advocate Sanjay M Nuli appeared for the petitioner..[Live Coverage]