“I Respect All Religions”: CJI Gavai clarifies comment on Vishnu idol petition

September 18, 2025

New Delhi, Sep 18: Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai on Thursday briefly addressed the controversy arising out of a recent remark made by him during the hearing of a petition seeking restoration of a 7-foot-tall decapitated idol of Lord Vishnu at the Zaveri temple in Madhya Pradesh.

CJI Gavai had earlier refused to entertain the petition, and during the proceedings on September 16, made a remark suggesting that if the petitioner believed so strongly, he should “go and pray to the deity”. The remark sparked a controversy on social media, with some sections calling it disrespectful to Hindu sentiments.

Making his point clear, CJI Gavai said, “I respect all religions… it happened on social media,” assuring that there was no intention of disrespect in his words.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was present, added that reactions on social media are often blown out of proportion. He said, “We have seen this… Newton’s law says that every action has an equal and opposite reaction, but now every action gets a huge reaction on social media, friends.”

The controversy began when the court noted that the question of restoring the statue falls within the purview of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and not under the jurisdiction of the judiciary. The Zaveri Temple, where the statue is located, is part of the UNESCO-listed Khajuraho group of monuments.

CJI Gavai had earlier told the petitioner:
“Go and ask the deity to do something now. You say you are a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. Then go and pray. This is an archaeological site, and permission is required from ASI. Sorry,” he said while refusing to entertain the petition.

The petition was filed by a person named Rakesh Dalal, who claimed that the idol was damaged during the Mughal invasions and has not been restored despite repeated appeals to the government. The petition highlighted the historical significance of the Khajuraho temples built by the Chandela dynasty, and alleged that both colonial and post-independence neglect have led to the current condition of the idol.

Dalal argued that the refusal to restore the idol violated the fundamental right to worship of the devotees. He also mentioned protests, memorandums and awareness campaigns demanding restoration, none of which received any official response.

Senior advocate Sanjay M. Nooli appeared for the petitioner.