A day after Chief Justice DY Chandrachud revealed that he prayed to God for a solution to the Ayodhya dispute, Congress leader Udit Raj responded by suggesting that if the Chief Justice had prayed for other issues, they might also have been resolved. Raj, who is the national chairman of the Unorganised Workers and Employees Congress, expressed his thoughts on social media, pointing out that if prayers had been directed towards other areas, such as improving access to justice or addressing the misuse of agencies like the ED, CBI, and IT, the country might have seen significant reforms.
Justice Chandrachud’s remarks came during a speech in Pune, where he reflected on the resolution of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case. He shared that before delivering the historic verdict in 2019, he had prayed to God for guidance, believing that faith plays a role in finding solutions to complex issues. The Chief Justice was part of the five-judge Supreme Court bench that delivered the judgment, which resolved the long-standing legal battle by allowing the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya and granting an alternative plot for the construction of a mosque.
Udit Raj’s critique points to concerns over systemic issues within India’s judiciary and law enforcement, implying that prayer alone cannot address the deeper, structural challenges citizens face when seeking justice. His comments also reflect broader criticism of the alleged misuse of investigative agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for political purposes.
The Ayodhya case was a contentious issue for decades, revolving around whether a 16th-century mosque was built after demolishing a temple at what is considered the birthplace of Lord Ram. The 2019 Supreme Court ruling was seen as a pivotal moment in resolving the dispute, ending nearly 70 years of litigation.
