SC notice to Gyanvapi mosque panel on plea for survey of ‘shivling’ area

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan issued notice to the Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masajid and sought its reply within two weeks on a plea filed by the Hindu side.

By: PTI

New Delhi | Updated: November 23, 2024 04:06 AM IST

2 min read

On May 16, 2022, during a court-ordered survey of the Gyanvapi premises, a structure found in the wazukhana (ablution pond) area was claimed to be a “shivling” by the Hindu side whereas the Muslim party claimed it to be a “fountain”.

The Supreme Court on Friday sought the response from the Gyanvapi mosque committee in Varanasi on a plea filed by the Hindu side for conducting an ASI survey of the sealed area of the mosque where a “shivling” was purportedly found in May, 2022.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan issued notice to the Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masajid and sought its reply within two weeks on a plea filed by the Hindu side.

On May 16, 2022, during a court-ordered survey of the Gyanvapi premises, a structure found in the wazukhana (ablution pond) area was claimed to be a “shivling” by the Hindu side whereas the Muslim party claimed it to be a “fountain”.

Senior advocate Shyam Divan, along with advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, said they had filed an application to consolidate all suits and transfer it from Varanasi district court to the Allahabad High Court.

Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the mosque management committee, contended the appeal filed by Masjid committee questioning the maintainability of the suits as barred by the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act 1991 should be heard on an urgent basis.

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