Chief Justice of India B R Gavai Thursday said he “respects all religions” after his oral remarks during a recent hearing of a plea seeking restoration of a Lord Vishnu idol in Madhya Pradesh’s Khajuraho set off a furore on social media.
CJI Gavai clarified that his comments were on the context of the fact that it was the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) which has jurisdiction over its upkeep. “I believe in all the religions, I respect all the (religions),” CJI Gavai said.
Presiding over a two-judge bench with Justice K Vinod Chandran, the Chief Justice of India made the comments on September 16 while dismissing the plea seeking the reconstruction of a dilapidated 7 feet tall Lord Vishnu idol at the Javari Temple in Khajuraho Temple complex.