Protection for 'Shivling' in Gyanvapi mosque extended

New Delhi: The Supreme Court extended the protection over the area inside the Gyanvapi Mosque where a 'Shivling' has been stated to be found.

On Friday, a bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices Surya Kant and PS Narasimha made the extension at the mosque premises in Varanasi till further orders. It allowed the Hindu parties an application before the Varanasi district judge for consolidation of all the lawsuits filed on the Gyanvapi row.

The court then directed the Hindu parties to file their responses 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.

It was on May 17 the SC passed the interim order, directing the district magistrate of Varanasi to ensure the protection of the area inside the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex. Three days later, the court transferred a civil suit filed by Hindu devotees on the Gyanvapi mosque from the civil judge (senior division) to the district judge of Varanasi, saying looking at the "complexities" and the "sensitivity" of the issue, it is better if a senior judicial officer with more than 25-30 years of experience handles the case.

In the May 17 interim order, the court said that there must be protected in the area where "Shivling" is said to be found and allowed Muslims to offer namaz on the mosque premises. The arrangement would continue till the maintainability of the suit is decided by the district judge and, thereafter, for eight weeks to allow the aggrieved parties to approach a higher court, the top court had said.