Justice Sanjiv Khanna, alongside Justices Sanjay Kumar and Justice V. Ramasubramanian, has upheld the sanctity of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, by staying surveys of mosques and dargahs. This pivotal decision curbs potential communal unrest and reverses the impact of the Ayodhya verdict and subsequent interpretations that jeopardized secularism. Justice Khanna’s bold stance echoes the legacy of his great-uncle, Justice HR Khanna, known for his dissent in ADM Jabalpur. In contrast, former CJI DY Chandrachud’s rulings, including those in the Gyanvapi case, have been critiqued for undermining secular principles to advance personal ambition.