The Supreme Court of India on Friday refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a ban on the construction or naming of any mosque after Babur or the Babri Masjid.

A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta refuse to hear the petition filed by Devkinandan alias Devki Nandan Pandey. Following the Court’s indication, the petitioner chose to withdraw the plea.

Further, the PIL sought directions to the Centre and State governments to prohibit the construction, establishment, or naming of any mosque or religious structure in the name of Babur, Babri Masjid, or any similar name anywhere in the country.

The petitioner argued that no religious structure should be named after a person who, according to him, had come to India as an invader.