Gyanvapi mosque: SC to hear case on April 14, allows Muslim side to file application
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The Supreme Court on Thursday said that it will hear the case relating to Varanasi’s Gyanvapi mosque on April 14 and allowed the Muslim side to file an application before it regarding their request to allow the practice of ablution inside the mosque premises.
“This is the month of Ramzan and the worshippers should be able to pray inside the premises.” Senior Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi said while mentioning the matter to the court.
In response, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud asked for an application to be filed in this regard, according to Bar & Bench.
The wuzu area, where the practice of ablution takes place, is at the centre of the dispute since the Hindu side had claimed that a Shivling has been found at the centre of the contested area.
In November 2022, the apex court extended its earlier order for the protection of the 'Shivling' discovered at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi. The SC order came after the Hindu side said that the May 17 order of the apex court granting protection to the 'Shivling' area was expiring on November 12 and it needed to be extended.
"We direct that pending further orders, interim order dated May 17 shall continue to remain in operation," a bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices Surya Kant and PS Narasimha said.
The bench also directed the Hindu parties to file their replies within three weeks on the appeal filed by the management committee of the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid challenging the Allahabad High Court order on the appointment of a survey commissioner.
On May 17 last year, the Supreme Court passed an interim order directing the Varanasi district magistrate to ensure the protection of the area inside the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex where a 'Shivling' was allegedly found in a videographic survey.
The apex court had also allowed Muslims to offer namaz in the Gyanvapi mosque.
On April 26, 2022, a lower court, hearing a plea by a group of five women seeking permission for daily worship of idols of Hindu deities on the mosque's outer walls, ordered a videographic survey of the Gyanvapi complex. The Hindu side had claimed the 'Shivling' was found during the exercise.
The Supreme Court then transferred the case from the civil judge (senior division) to the district judge on May 20, 2022, saying looking at the "complexities" and "sensitivity" of the issue, it would be better if a senior judicial officer with an experience of over 25-30 years handles the case.