Gyanvapi Masjid Case: SC Defers Hearing To Friday, Asks Varanasi Court To Stop Proceedings Until Then

The Supreme Court resumed hearing a plea of the Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masjid which manages Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi.

In the prior hearing on Tuesday, the SC bench issued notices to the petitioner Hindu devotees while refusing to stay the ongoing proceedings before the lower court. ( Image Source :Getty Images | PTI )

New Delhi: Supreme Court on Thursday asked the trial court in Varanasi not to proceed with the Gyanvapi Mosque case till Friday, May 20, as it deferred the matter for a hearing tomorrow at 3 pm after being informed that counsel for Hindu devotees is indisposed. The SC bench today resumed hearing a plea of the Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masjid which manages Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi.

In the prior hearing on Tuesday, the bench issued notices to the Hindu petitioners while refusing to stay the ongoing proceedings before the lower court.

Supreme Court to hear Gyanvapi mosque case on Friday, 20th May at 3 pm#GyanvapiMasjid #GyanvapiMasjidCase #SupremeCourtpic.twitter.com/WjDOXcFQqe

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According to news agency ANI, Advocate Vishnu Jain representing the Hindu side told the Supreme Court that senior advocate Hari Shankar Jain is not well and requested it to hear the Gyanvapi Mosque issue tomorrow.

Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the Muslim side, told the Court that there are multiple litigations across the country, there is urgency and it should be heard today itself.

Following this, the apex court differed the hearing to tomorrow.

After the session, advocate Vishnu Jain said, "Two proceedings can't go on simultaneously. I'd given an undertaking that since Hari Shankar Jain is unwell and will recover by tomorrow, the matter may be adjourned till tomorrow. Let SC decide and we'll proceed accordingly."

Gyanvapi Survey Report Submitted To Varanasi Court 

A commission appointed by Varanasi court to conduct a videographic survey of the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi Mosque complex submitted its report on Thursday, news agency PTI reported an advocate as saying.

Special Advocate Commissioner Vishal Singh submitted the report of the survey work carried out on May 14, 15, and 16 in the court of the District Civil Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar, said advocate Madan Mohan Yadav, who is representing the Hindu side in the case.

Also, Ajay Mishra, who was removed by the court as the advocate commissioner, filed a report late Wednesday evening on the survey conducted by him on May 6 and 7, Yadav said.

After removing Mishra on Tuesday, the court had appointed Vishal Singh as the special advocate commissioner and Ajay Pratap Singh as the assistant advocate commissioner.

The mosque is located close to the iconic Kashi Vishwanath temple and the local court is hearing a plea by a group of women seeking permission for daily prayers before the idols on its outer walls.

Sohan Lal Arya, a petitioner in the Gyanvapi mosque case said that the team found "conclusive evidence", as he claimed that the survey committee found a Shivling at the complex.

An apex court bench comprising Justices DY Chandrachud and PS Narasimha passed the order to ensure the protection of the area inside the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex where 'Shivling' is said to be found in the survey.

In the Tuesday hearing, the apex court stated that it needed to balance the rights of contesting parties and clarified that the order of the civil judge (senior division), hearing the plea of petitioner Hindu devotees, directing authorities to ensure the protection of the area would not restrict and impede the rights of Muslim to offer Namaz and to perform religious observances.

(With Agency Inputs)