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Court In India Hears Challenge To Hindu Ceremony Starting Courthouse Construction

By Howard M. Friedman

In India yesterday, a two-judge panel of the Gujarat High Court heard arguments in a case challenging the constitutionality of a Hindu ceremony in which the Gujarat governor, the chief justice of the High Court and other judges had all taken part last year.  Articles last week in DNA and today in The Hindu explain the controversy.  The Gujarat government had acquired land on which to build advanced infrastructure for the court.  Before construction began, the traditional Hindu foundation-laying ceremony, known as bhoomi pujan, was held, apparently also as part of the court's Golden Jubilee celebration. In the arguments yesterday, petitioner's counsel asserted that since India is a secular state, no part of the government can sponsor a religious ceremony.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on January 21, 2011 (boomark / email).