The Gyanvapi Mosque after its survey by a commission, in Varanasi, Tuesday, Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (PTI)Gyanvapi mosque case Highlights: The Supreme Court on Friday transferred the Gyanvapi mosque case pending before civil judge, senior division, to the court of the Varanasi district judge for trial. Observing that a “slightly more mature” and “seasoned hand” should handle the Gyanvapi mosque case, the apex court suggested that the matter be heard by a district court in Varanasi. “A slightly more seasoned and mature hand should hear this case. We’re not making aspersion on trial judge. But more seasoned hand should deal with this case and it’ll benefit all parties,” the bench said.
Stating that the bench is on a joint mission to preserve a sense of unification in the country, the court said once the commission report on the Gyanvapi mosque case is out, there cannot be selective leaks. “We are here in a joint mission to preserve a sense of unification in the country. Once commission report is there, there cannot be selective leaks. Do not leak things to the press. Only judge opens the report,” the SC bench said.
The Allahabad High Court Friday adjourned the hearing of the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque case till July 6. The HC was hearing a petition challenging the suit pending in the Varanasi court regarding the dispute. As many as six petitions have been filed in the High Court over the matter. The Varanasi court will resume hearing the case on May 23.
The two reports on a videography survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, submitted in the Varanasi court Thursday, state that debris of old temples were found at the corner of the northern and western walls outside the barricading, and Hindu motifs such as bells, kalash, flowers and trishul were visible on pillars in the tehkhana (basement).
The Supreme Court stated that its interim order of May 17 for the protection of the Shivling area and free access to Muslims to offer namaz will continue. The court also asked district magistrate, Varanasi, in consultation with parties to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made for Wazu, if not already made.
The Supreme Court on Friday transferred the Gyanvapi mosque case being heard by it to the court of the Varanasi district judge for trial. Observing that a “slightly more mature” and “seasoned hand” should handle the Gyanvapi mosque case, the apex court suggested that the matter be heard by a district court in Varanasi. “A slightly more seasoned and mature hand should hear this case. We’re not making aspersion on trial judge. But more seasoned hand should deal with this case and it’ll benefit all parties,” the bench said.
Observing that the bench is on a joint mission to preserve a sense of unification in the country, the Supreme Court Friday said once the commission report on the Gyanvapi mosque case is out, there cannot be selective leaks. "We are here in a joint mission to preserve a sense of unification in the country. Once commission report is there, there cannot be selective leaks. Do not leak things to the press. Only judge opens the report," an apex court bench said while hearing the case.
Senior Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi appearing for the Muslim plaintiff said all these orders passed from beginning are capable of creating great public mischief, the Bar & Bench reported. "It's in teeth of an injunction passed by parliament," Ahmadi added.
"We cannot guide a District judge. Let them handle it, they have enough experience at the bench. We cannot command him to hear it in this way or that way," the Bar & Bench quoted the SC as saying.
Senior Advocate CS Vaidyanathan representing the Hindu side said, "Today the SLP is infructuous since all three orders have been complied with. Religious character of the mosque has to be decided. The commission report has to be seen by the court," Replying to the the SC said, "We took your point, that is why entrusting it to a district judge."
Observing that a "slightly more mature" and "seasoned hand" should handle the Gyanvapi mosque case, the Supreme Court on Friday suggested that the matter be heard by a district court in Varanasi. "A slightly more seasoned and mature hand should hear this case. We're not making aspersion on trial judge. But more seasoned hand should deal with this case and it'll benefit all parties," an apex court bench said while hearing the case.
The Supreme Court is hearing an plea challenging the Allahabad High Court order permitting a court-appointed commissioner to inspect, conduct survey and videography of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi to which Hindus and Muslims have laid claim for right to worship, the Bar & Bench reported.
The Allahabad High Court Friday adjourned a hearing of the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque case till July 6. The HC was hearing a petition challenging the suit pending in the Varanasi court regarding the dispute.
As many as six petitions have been filed in the High Court over the matter. Advocate SFA Naqvi appearing on behalf of the petitioner said that the opposition is yet to file their response in the case. The petitioner has challenged the suit pending in Varanasi court, under the Places of Worship Act of 1991, said Naqvi. Read more
The Gyanvapi mosque management committee has asked devotees to come in smaller numbers for the Friday prayers as the wazu khana area has been sealed under the SC's orders.
In view of the wazu khana area being sealed under the Supreme Court's order, the Gyanvapi mosque management committee, Anjuman Intizamia Masajid, asked people not to come in large numbers for the Friday prayers. For those coming, the committee asked them to perfom wazu at home.
The Supreme Court is set to resume the hearing in the Gyanvapi mosque case today (May 20) after it had adjourned the matter for a day on the request of the plaintiffs from the Hindu side.
On Thursday, deferring the case for a day, SC had asked the Varanasi court before which the proceedings are pending not to take any further action in the matter till then. A bench presided by Justice D Y Chandrachud said it will hear the matter at 3 pm Friday after it was told that Senior Advocate Hari Shankar Jain, who is representing the Hindu side before the Varanasi court and was indisposed on the last date of hearing, had been discharged from hospital only Wednesday.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Vishal Singh, the court-appointed special advocate commissioner said, "I have submitted my detailed report along with photographic and video evidence to the court. The order passed by the Supreme Court today (May 20) will have to be adhered to by all."
In this episode of Expresso News Update, we talk about the latest developments in the Gyanvapi mosque case. Two reports have been submitted to the Varanasi court which ordered the survey, which state that debris of temples and Hindu motifs were found inside the complex. Tune in!
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Thursday said AIMIM's leader Asaduddin Owaisi "wants to remain in news" by making statements on Gyanvapi mosque issue.
However, Pathak did not comment on the Gyanvapi issue and said the "matter is in court and we will follow the order".
When asked about the recent views of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief on the Gyanvapi mosque issue, Pathak said, "The AIMIM chief wants to remain in news by making such statements." (PTI)
In claims likely to deepen the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi row, two reports on a videography survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex state that debris of old temples were found at the corner of the northern and western walls outside the barricading, and Hindu motifs such as bells, kalash, flowers and trishul were visible on pillars in the tehkhana (basement).
The two reports have been submitted to the Varanasi court which ordered the survey. In his report conducted on May 6-7, Ajay Kumar Mishra, who was removed as the Advocate Commissioner on May 17, stated that debris of old temples were found at the corner of the northern and western walls outside the barricading, and structures of gods and goddesses and lotus were spotted. Read more
Samajwadi Party MP Shafiqur Rehman Barq on Thursday said the claimed discovery of a Shivling in Varanasi's Gyanvapi mosque complex was “false propaganda” and urged opposition parties to counter it.
The local MP said Hindus and Muslims should ensure that such propaganda is stopped as every mosque is now being seen with suspicion.
He asked why Muslims would keep a Shivling at their place of worship as this would be idol worship, which is against the Shariat.
Earlier this week, Hindu lawyers had claimed that a structure found in the `wazookhana' reservoir at the mosque during a court-ordered survey was a Shivling.
The mosque committee members disputed the claim, saying the structure was part of the fountain mechanism at the wazookhana, where people perform ritual ablutions before offering namaz. --PTI
A Varanasi court hearing the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri case on Thursday posted the matter to May 23 for the next hearing.Both the parties filed their objections and counter-objections on Thursday. In view of the Supreme Court's order to the lower court not to proceed with the matter till Friday, it fixed May 23 for the next hearing, Madan Mohan Yadav, the lawyer representing the Hindu side, said.Abhay Yadav, the lawyer appearing for the Muslim side, said the plaintiff had demanded the court-appointed team to carry on with its proceedings by demolishing certain walls, "to which we have objected"."Also, a government counsel had demanded the removal of fish from a man-made pond located on the premises of the mosque. These fish are ours and we have raised our objection to this petition as well," he said. Read more
"As per the Places of Worship Act, any attempt to alter the character of the Gyanvapi mosque is a violation of the letter and spirit of the law of the land. Of course, the BJP has the numbers to amend this Act. But such a move will be nothing short of a challenge to the post-1947 Indian nation-state, where a multitude and different religions have co-existed by respecting each other’s space and rights and embracing an identity defined by Constitutional values rather than claims made on behalf of faith or numerical strength. On Ayodhya, despite calls from within, the Government took a call to wait for the highest court to rule. What it does with the Places of Worship Act and how it responds to the current campaign being fought in courts but framed by majoritarian politics in terms of culture and faith, will shape how a democratic India looks at its history and its future. The stakes couldn’t be higher, all need to tread with caution — and the Constitution." Read more
SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav Tuesday said the BJP uses its “invisible friends” to rake up issues like the Gyanvapi mosque to divert people’s attention from issues like price rise and unemployment.
“Gyanvapi mosque and other such incidents, the BJP does these things intentionally. Either the BJP does it, or their hidden and invisible friends do such things. They (BJP) push their invisible friends in the front. That’s because the BJP doesn’t want to answer fundamental questions like the rise in the prices of diesel and petrol,” said Akhilesh during his visit to Azamgarh. Read more