SC To Hear Gyanvapi Case On April 14, Allows Muslim Side To File Application On Allowing Ablution

The SC said it will hear the case relating to Gyanvapi mosque on April 14 and allowed the Muslim side to file an application regarding their request to allow the practice of ablution inside the premises.

The Supreme Court Thursday said it will hear on April 14 the case relating to Gyanvapi mosque situated in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi. The apex court allowed the Muslim side to file an application before it regarding their request to allow the practice of ablution inside the mosque premises, news agency ANI reported.

The Muslim side has maintained that the object said to be 'Shivling' by the Hindu side was part of the water fountain mechanism at the 'wazookhana' reservoir where devotees carry out ablutions before offering namaz.

In November 2022, the apex extended its earlier order for the protection of the 'Shivling' discovered at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi. The SC order came after the Hindu side said that the May 17 order of the apex court granting protection to the 'Shivling' area was expiring on November 12 and it needed to be extended.

"We direct that pending further orders, interim order dated May 17 shall continue to remain in operation," a bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices Surya Kant and PS Narasimha said.

The bench also directed the Hindu parties to file their replies within three weeks on the appeal filed by the management committee of the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid challenging the Allahabad High Court order on the appointment of a survey commissioner, news agency PTI reported.

On May 17 last year, the Supreme Court had passed an interim order directing the Varanasi district magistrate to ensure protection of the area inside the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex where a 'Shivling' was allegedly found in a videographic survey.

The apex court had also allowed Muslims to offer namaz in the Gyanvapi mosque.

On April 26, 2022, a lower court, hearing a plea by a group of five women seeking permission for daily worship of idols of Hindu deities on the mosque's outer walls, ordered a videographic survey of the Gyanvapi complex. The Hindu side had claimed the 'Shivling' was found during the exercise.

The Supreme Court had transferred the case from the civil judge (senior division) to the district judge on May 20, 2022, saying looking at the "complexities" and "sensitivity" of the issue, it would be better if a senior judicial officer with an experience of over 25-30 years handles the case.