Gyanvapi Mosque case: SC extends protection of 'Shivling' area till further orders

On May 17, the Supreme Court said the area within Gyanvapi mosque where 'Shivlingam' has been found need to be protected

The Supreme Court on Friday extended the protection granted to the 'Shivling', claimed to have been found at the Gyanvapi mosque complex, till further orders.

A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices Surya Kant and P S Narasimha said the interim order passed on May 17 would continue in operation in this regard.

Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, representing Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Varanasi, submitted that he has no objection to the continuation of the interim order.

Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for one of the parties on behalf of the Hindu side, submitted the present petition has become infructuous as the masjid side has already participated in the proceedings of the matter.

Ahmadi, however, contended he would require time to respond to the contention.

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing women Hindu devotees, had on Thursday mentioned the matter before a bench, saying eight weeks protection ordered earlier by the apex court, was likely to end on November 12.

He also said that the Varanasi court had already given its finding that the suit filed by the women was maintainable, while a revision application against the order was pending before the Allahabad High Court.

A Varanasi court on November 8, postponed till November 14 its judgment on a separate plea seeking permission to allow worship of the ‘Shivling’ claimed to be found on the premises of the mosque.

On May 17, the Supreme Court said the area within Gyanvapi mosque where 'Shivling' has been found need to be protected, but there should be no restriction on Muslims entering the mosque to offer namaz.

On May 20, the top court transferred the proceedings of the suit by Hindu parties seeking worshipping rights at the Gynavapi mosque to the district judge in Varanasi.