The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board on Thursday urged the Supreme Court not to entertain petitions seeking the removal of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, saying it would lead to polarisation reminiscent of the “bloodbath” in the aftermath of the Babri Masjid demolition.

The Act mandates that the character of a place of worship shall not be altered from what existed on August 15, 1947.

A batch of PILs have been filed by various individuals challenging the 1991 Act as being illegal and unconstitutional.

Amarnath

Srinagar: Lieutenant General Manoj Sinha on Thursday said the Amarnath pilgrims who had been reported missing during last week’s flashfloods have been traced and the rescue operation has been called off.

Sinha, who heads Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, on Thursday said 15 pilgrims lost their lives and no one was missing.

Various reports earlier had put the number of missing at 40, triggering fears that the casualties could go up.Sinha said 55 people were injured in the flashfloods triggered by the landslide out of whom 53 have been discharged.

He said two are still admitted to Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar but they are stable.