A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking a direction to allow devotees to pray before the Shivling reportedly found inside the wazukhana or reservoir in the Gyanvapi mosque complex, which is adjacent to the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. The petition was filed by one Rajesh Mani Tripathi, president of the Shri Krishana Janma Bhumi Mukti Sthal, ANI reported.
In the petition, Tripathi has said that since the month of 'Shravana' was starting, Hindus should be allowed to offer puja and exercise their right.
"The petitioner's right to preach his own religious practices and rituals according to Hindu customs as provided under Article 25 of the Constitution of India and it is a fact that the month of Shravana is being celebrated to offer puja to Lord Shiva...and the petitioner came before the court seeking permission to practice his prayer in the month of Shravana to offer puja, exercise the rights of 'freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion' as guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution of India," the plea stated.
On April 26, 2022, a Varanasi court ordered a survey and videography of the mosque complex after a petition was filed by five Hindu women seeking permission for daily worship of Hindu deities whose idols were located on an outer wall of the mosque.
The survey work was completed on May 16 and the report was presented in the court on May 19. The Hindu side had claimed in the court that a Shivling was found during the videography survey. The Muslim side, however, claimed that the structure was part of the fountain at the mosque's wazukhana area.
On May 20, the Supreme Court had ordered the transfer of the case related to worship at Gyanvapi mosque from the civil judge to the District Judge, Varanasi.
The court ordered that its interim order passed on May 17 -- to protect the area where the Shivling was found and access to Muslims for namaz -- shall continue till maintainability of the suit filed by the Hindu women was decided.