Gyanwapi Church: Supreme Court orders protection of Shivalingam site | Gyanvapi Mosque supreme court case

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has asked the Varanasi district administration to find out where the Shiva lingam was found in the Gyanwapi mosque in Varanasi. The court also directed the district magistrate to protect the place where the Shiva lingam was allegedly found during a survey conducted at the church. The Supreme Court has ruled that Muslims should not be barred from attending prayers and performing religious rites.

The bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and PS Narasimha adjourned the case till Thursday on the ground that it was in the current situation. Notice sent to concerned parties. The apex court was hearing a special leave petition filed by the Varanasi Anjuman Indasamiya Masjid Management Committee seeking an injunction restraining the survey and maintaining the status quo.

The court asked the Varanasi district administration where the Shiva lingam was found. Solicitor General Thushar Mehta, appearing for the UP government, said he had not seen the report. He asked for time to provide details. The place where the Shiva lingam was found was sealed to avoid any law and order problems.

It is said that a Shiva lingam was found inside the cleansing tank before the prayers. But the church committee explained that it was an old fountain.

Based on the explanation given by the Solicitor General, the Supreme Court directed that the place where the Shiva lingam was allegedly found should be protected and the freedom of worship of Muslims should not be restricted.

The special leave petition against the survey proceedings reached the Supreme Court on Friday. However, Chief Justice NV Ramana was not ready to hear the case immediately as he did not know the details. The petition was later referred to a bench headed by DY Chandrachud. Even before the Supreme Court on Tuesday, the Varanasi senior division civil judge ordered the sealing of the shrine on the basis of information provided by the petitioners that the Shiva lingam had been found.