HomeNews‘I Respect All Religions’: CJI Gavai Responds to Social Media Criticism Over...

‘I Respect All Religions’: CJI Gavai Responds to Social Media Criticism Over Khajuraho Remarks

Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on Thursday clarified that he “respects all religions” after facing criticism on social media for his remarks during a recent hearing in the Khajuraho idol restoration case.

CJI Gavai explained that his earlier comments were made in the context of the Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) jurisdiction over the temple’s upkeep. “I believe in all the religions, I respect all the religions,” he said.

On September 16, while heading a bench with Justice K Vinod Chandran, the CJI had dismissed a plea seeking reconstruction of a 7-foot-tall Lord Vishnu idol at Khajuraho’s Javari Temple. Calling it “publicity interest litigation,” he told the petitioner: “If you claim to be a strong devotee of Lord Vishnu, then pray and meditate. Go and ask the deity himself to do something.”

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On Thursday, while hearing a separate case on illegal iron ore mining in Karnataka, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta flagged concerns about media reports and social media reactions. CJI Gavai noted how his own remarks had been misrepresented online, saying: “On social media, nowadays it can be anything… Somebody told me I had said something dismissive.”

Backing the Chief Justice, Mehta said: “I know the CJI for the last 10 years. He visits temples and places of all religions with reverence. Earlier we knew Newton’s law—every action has an equal reaction. Now, every action has a disproportionate social media reaction.”

CJI Gavai also pointed out that he had advised the petitioner about the presence of a major Shiva temple in Khajuraho, adding that the site is home to “one of the biggest Lingas.”

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