The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed petitions filed by the Muslim side in the Gyanvapi Mosque dispute, thus, allowing the Hindu community to continue worship at the cellar. A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra ordered the Hindu and Muslim sides to maintain the status quo at the Gyanvapi premises to enable both communities to offer 'puja' and 'namaz'.
The status quo should not be altered without the permission of the apex court, said the bench. The bench took note that the access to the Tehkhana where the 'puja' is held and the area where Muslims pray are different. The top court said that Hindus would enter from the South and pray in Tehkhana and Muslims would enter from the Northern side for prayer.
During the hearing, the apex court also noted the Muslims were offering prayer unhindered and the offering of 'puja' was confined to the area of Tehkhana only."Are we correct to say that prayers in the South (cellar) do not impact (Muslim) prayers In North. If this is correct.. we can say let no further change happen in the status quo further. We say let namaz continue and worship in the south cellar can continue," said CJI Chandrachud during the hearing.
It further issued notice to Hindu plaintiffs on an appeal of mosque committee challenging an order of Allahabad High Court over 'puja' of deities inside the 'Vyas Tehkhana'. The top court now posted the matter for hearing in July.
Earlier, the Allahabad High Court had dismissed their petition as well. The appeals were filed before the high court by the Anjuman Intezamia Mosque Committee, responsible for managing the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi. This ruling marked a significant development in the ongoing legal saga surrounding the Gyanvapi mosque, with implications for its management and religious activities moving forward.
Earlier on February 14, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the Gyanvapi premises and offered prayers at the 'Vyas Ka Tekhana'. He visited the controversial Gyanvapi premises after offering prayers at Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath temple. While passing through the route of Vyas basement after worshipping at the temple, he took the 'darshan' of the idols placed in the Vyas basement.
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