Giving an important order in the Gyanvapi Masjid case, the Supreme Court has asked the District Magistrate to secure the area where the Shivling is said to be found. Along with this, entry of Muslims for prayer or religious activity should not be stopped. The Supreme Court limited the order to seal the Varanasi court to secure the Shivling area.
There is no stay on the proceedings of the Varanasi court. The court said that we think that this is a balance order. The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Hindu side on the petition of the Masjid Committee.
The petitioners on the Hindu side to whom the notice has been issued include Rakhi Singh, Lakshmi Devi, Sita Sahu, Manju Vyas, Rekha Pathak.
Apart from this, notices have been issued to the UP government, Banaras DM, Police Commissioner and all the trustees of the board of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The matter will be heard on May 19.
“Where exactly was the Shivling found?” Justice DY Chandrachud said.
“We haven’t seen the report,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Uttar Pradesh government, replied, and sought time till tomorrow to return with details.
The top court was hearing the matter amid an important development with a Varanasi court, which removed the official who was leading the videography survey. Advocate commissioner Ajay Mishra was removed on grounds of non-cooperation, an official said.
“The DM Varanasi shall ensure that the area where the Shivling found is protected, without impeding the Muslims from using the mosque for worship,” said the Supreme Court.
“We need a stay on all the orders. (This includes the order through which the survey was ordered),” said the petitioner in Supreme Court.
“The applicants in the suit said there was a shivling somewhere near the pond, this was highly improper as the proceedings are confidential,” said the petitioner.
“The suit speaks about changing the religious character which is currently the mosque,”, one of the petitioner said.
