SC defers Gyanvapi hearing, asks Varanasi court to halt proceedings
The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Varanasi District Court not to issue any order in the Gyanvapi Mosque case until it hears the matter on Friday at 3:00 pm. The SC issued the directive after plaintiffs from the Hindu side requested more time. Meanwhile, the videography survey report of the mosque was submitted to the district court in a sealed envelope on Thursday.
- After a Shivling was found inside the mosque complex on Monday, the Varanasi court ordered to seal the spot.
- Disputing the claim, Anjuman Intezamia Masjid said the object was part of the wuzukhana's fountain.
- The Supreme Court also ordered to protect the area, without hindering Muslims' access for namaz.
- The survey team was given a two-day extension to submit the final report on Tuesday.
A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant, and PS Narashima was informed by advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain that Hari Shankar Jain, the lead counsel for the Hindu devotees in the civil suit, is indisposed. Agreeing to hear the case on Friday, the SC recorded an undertaking of the Hindu side that they would not press for a hearing in the meantime.
Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the Committee of Management of Anjuman Intezamia Masjid (AIM), said he wouldn't oppose the adjournment. However, he mentioned several applications have been filed across the country to "seal" various mosques and cited the ongoing case in the Varanasi court. Following this, the Supreme Court asked the civil court to not proceed with the hearing till Friday.
The Supreme Court had heard the Muslim side's plea on Tuesday and ordered the Varanasi district administration to protect the area where the Shivling was allegedly found without impeding Muslims from coming to offer namaz. Ahmadi sought a stay from the SC on all the orders of the trial court, including the appointment of a commissioner, ANI reported on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the survey report, in three folders—one for each day—was presented in a sealed cover in the court of Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar. A chip with videos and photographs of the filming was also handed over, Chief Commissioner Vishal Singh told NDTV. The 10-12 page-long survey report would be examined by the court before giving further orders, said Ajay Pratap Singh, Assistant Court Commissioner.
Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Wednesday said the "truth" behind the site's origins should come out. "Gyanvapi issue is going on. The facts are coming out... In any case, truth always finds a way out. How long can you hide it? It is time we put historical facts in the right perspective," ANI quoted the Sangh's publicity in-charge Sunil Ambekar as saying.
