Supreme Court to hear Gyanvapi case on Friday

'Supreme Court to hear Gyanvapi case on Friday'

The Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing of the Gyanvapi Masjid case in Varanasi till tomorrow i.e. May 20. A bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud directed the lower court in Varanasi not to pass any order in the matter today.



During the hearing today, the counsel for the petitioners in the lower court of Varanasi demanded postponement of the hearing today. Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain said that Harishankar Jain, the counsel for the petitioners in the Varanasi Court, was discharged from the hospital on May 18. He sought adjournment of the hearing today. Advocate Hufeza Ahmadi demanded a stay on the hearing to be held in Varanasi Court today.



On May 17, the court had ordered the sealing of the Shivling found in the Gyanvapi mosque premises. The court had said that Muslims should not be stopped from entering for Namaz. The court had said that there is no stay on the hearing of the lower court. During the hearing, the petitioner's lawyer Hufeza Ahmadi had said that the right of worship of Maa Shringar Gauri, Ganesh and other deities has been sought in the mosque premises. This will change the status of this place, which is a mosque now. Ahmadi had said that we challenged the appointment of the court commissioner, which was rejected. The demand for change of commissioner was also turned down. It was said that you cannot choose a commissioner, only facts are being checked.



During the hearing, the court had asked when did the commission act. Then Ahmadi said that on 14 and 15 May. He knew that the Supreme Court was about to hear, yet he took his own action. Then it was said that Shivling has been found. The order of sealing was passed by the lower court on 16 May. The action taken by the commission should have been kept confidential but became public. After this, orders have been given to the police, administration. The number of prayers has been limited.

The court said that a lot of things were sought in the application but the court ordered the sealing of the bus. On this Ahmadi said that the status of the religious place is being changed. Then the court said that we will order that the civil court should dispose of your application soon. Then Ahmadi said that it is not just that. All the orders of the Civil Court should be stayed. In the Ayodhya case, the Supreme Court has said that the Places of Worship Act is applicable to all religious places. The Supreme Court should see whether this suit should have been pursued in the lower court. Then the court said who is the lawyer in the lower court for the plaintiff. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the UP government, said that Harishankar Jain had appeared but I have been told that he is ill. Ahmadi said that without submitting the report of the committee and without hearing the Muslim side, the lower court has ordered the sealing, which is wrong.



The court said that we want to direct the lower court that the place where the Shivling was found should be kept safe but people should not be stopped from praying. Then Mehta said that Shivling has been found in Vazukhana, which is a place to wash hands and feet. The place of prayer is different. Mehta had said that the Shivling should not be harmed and then the court said that we will order security. Then Mehta said that I would like to tell on this tomorrow. We wish that your order should not have any undesired effect. Ahmadi said that this order will change the situation in the place. There is no prayer without wudu. The place is being used for centuries. Then the court said that we will hear on May 19. For now, we will maintain the order of protection of that place. We will give instructions to the DM. If any Shivling is found, then its protection is necessary. But the prayer should not be stopped now.

The court said that we are issuing notice. The hearing will take place on May 19. On that day the lawyer of the plaintiffs who are in the civil court will also be heard. We are limiting orders from May 16. Then Mehta said that if someone sets foot on the Shivling, the law and order situation may get affected. Then Ahmadi said that Wudhu is obligatory. Then Mehta said that she could be somewhere else. After that the court said that we are ordering the DM of Varanasi to preserve the place where Shivling has been found. People should not be stopped from praying. There is no stay on the trial of the lower court.



This petition has been filed by the Management Committee of Anjuman Inazaniya Masjid. In the petition, the order of the survey issued by the Varanasi lower court has been told against the 1991 Places of Worship Act. During the hearing, Hufeza had said that Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi comes under the Places of Worship Act, but the lower court of Varanasi has ordered a survey of Gyanvapi Masjid in violation of this law.

Let us inform that the lower court of Varanasi had ordered the survey of Gyanvapi Masjid but this survey was not allowed by the Masjid Committee. In fact, five Hindu women have demanded to worship behind the western wall of the Gyanvapi Masjid.