Gyanvapi: SC refuses to comment; says interim order to stay
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An aerial view of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi
New Delhi: The Supreme Court stated on Friday that it wouldn't comment on the merits of the Varanasi's Gyanvapi mosque case, and the interim order to protect the Shivling inside the mosque premises may continue, for now, NDTV reported.
The Supreme Court has transferred the case to a district judge.
The top court, which was hearing the case again a day after directing the Varanasi court to put a hold on further proceedings into the matter, said that the case is complex and sensitive. Therefore a district judge rather than a trial judge must handle the hearing since experience hands are required.
Varanasi court has posted a further hearing on two petitions to May 23. The counsel for the Muslim side in the case said on Thursday that both the parties had filed objections and countered objections before the trial Thursday.
The Hindu community had approached the Varanasi court, claiming that a Shivling was found during the videography survey of the Gyanvapi mosque-Shringar Gauri complex, while the Muslim side argued that it was part of the water fountain mechanism in the "wazookhana reservoir", used by devotees to perform ritual ablutions before offering namaz. The district court, however, ordered to seal the 'wazookhana'.
On Tuesday, SC had directed the Varanasi court to issue directions to provide protection to the area where the Shivling is claimed to be found. The protection must not affect "religious observances", the court said.
