After two days of sustained social media criticism over his oral remarks during a hearing on a damaged Lord Vishnu idol, Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai on Thursday clarified in open court that he respects every faith, visits places of worship across religions, and believes in “true secularism.”
“Someone told me the other day that the comments I made are being portrayed in social media. I believe in all religions. I respect all…” Chief Justice Gavai told the courtroom when the Bench reassembled after lunch.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, present in court, noted he has known the CJI for over a decade and is aware of his visits to “temples and religious places of all religions.” The CJI added that he has visited dargahs and gurdwaras as well, reiterating: “I believe in true secularism, in all religions.”
On September 16, the Supreme Court was hearing a plea seeking directions to reconstruct, replace, or rejuvenate the seven-foot Lord Vishnu idol at the Javari temple, part of the Khajuraho group of monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Madhya Pradesh. Declining the petition, the Bench led by the CJI and also comprising Justice Vinod Chandran termed it a public interest litigation. The CJI was reported to have told petitioner Rakesh Dalal: “Go and ask the deity himself to do something. If you are saying that you are a strong devotee of Lord Vishnu, then you pray and do some meditation.”
On Thursday, the CJI said those remarks were meant to emphasize that the court could not intervene because the site falls within monuments controlled by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and that his comments had been taken out of context. “We said it is within the monuments controlled by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and how can we pass orders,” he explained.
The Chief Justice added that the petition was taken up when the waqf case was still fresh in his mind, referring to an ASI report that had prompted the insertion of a provision in the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
“Really unfortunate the way it was shown on social media… Earlier we used to learn Newton’s law which said that for every action there is an equal reaction. Now, the new law is every action has a wrong and disproportionate reaction,” Mr. Mehta said. “Therefore, I never watch social media. At least till November 24 [the date of the CJI’s retirement],” Chief Justice Gavai responded.