Gyanvapi Mosque Row: Supreme Court Orders Transfer Of Case To Varanasi District Judge

“We need a degree of healing touch. We are on a joint mission for preserving a sense of balance in the country,” he added.

Supreme Court (File Photo: Getty Images)

New Delhi: Asserting that the Gyanvapi Mosque case was “a complex and sensitive matter”, the Supreme Court on Friday ordered the transfer of the suit from the Varanasi civil judge to the district judge. "This is a complex and sensitive matter. We think that the suit should be heard by a district judge instead of a trial judge. Because better if a more seasoned hand hears it," the Supreme Court said, PTI reported. Stating the “need for fraternity between communities and need for peace is topmost” for the court, Justice Chandrachud said: “We need a sense of balance and calm on the ground.”

“We need a degree of healing touch. We are on a joint mission for preserving a sense of balance in the country,” he added.

The Supreme Court ordered transfer of the Gyanvapi Mosque case to the district judge in Varanasi.

The apex court said having regard to the sensitivity of this civil suit case, the case is transferred from the civil judge senior division Varanasi to the district judge in Varanasi.

The apex court also ordered that senior and experienced judicial officer of the Uttar Pradesh Judicial services will hear the case.

The Supreme Court further said its interim order of May 17 for protection of the Shivling area and free access to the Muslims to offer namaz will continue.

The apex court directed the District Magistrate of Varanasi to ensure adequate arrangement of ‘wazu’ for the Muslims offering namaz in the Gyanvapi Mosque.

The Supreme Court , which resumed the hearing in the Gyanvapi Mosque case, had earlier on Thursday adjourned the matter for a day on the request of the plaintiffs from the Hindu side.

The apex court had earlier on Thursday asked the trial court in Varanasi not to proceed with the Gyanvapi Mosque case till Friday. The apex made the observation after being informed that counsel for the Hindu devotees is indisposed.

The apex court bench, which resumed hearing a plea of the Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masjid which manages the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, had in the prior hearing earlier on Tuesday issued notices to the Hindu petitioners while refusing to stay the ongoing proceedings before the lower court.

Vishnu Jain, the advocate 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, ANI reported.

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

Following this, the apex court deferred the hearing to Friday.

Special Advocate Commissioner Vishal Singh, who submitted the report of filming of the Gyanvapi Masjid to a court in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi city, has said “signs of many Sanatan culture” were found inside the mosque.

The Special Advocate Commissioner also informed the court that “Sanatan signs were found on the walls of the basement”, adding “lotus, damru, trishul and other signs were also found”. The filming of the Gyanvapi Masjid was done from May 14 to 16.

The Varanasi court is hearing a petition by five Hindu women, who claim there are idols of Hindu Gods and goddesses in the Gyanvapi mosque complex.