Will await Varanasi court verdict on case against Gyanvapi survey: SC

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused immediate relief in a plea challenging the Allahabad High Court's order that upheld the appointment of a court commissioner to survey the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi.

The top court said it would await the verdict of the Varanasi district court on an application filed by the Masjid committee questioning the maintainability of the suit.

The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee had also raised objections to the appointment of the court commissioner. The Supreme Court said it would keep the objections for consideration in the future and adjourned the case to October.

A bench comprising Justices DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant and PS Narasimha also refused to entertain a separate plea to offer prayers to the 'Shivling' purportedly found during the survey by the court commissioner within the mosque complex.

In May, the Supreme Court had directed the district magistrate of Varanasi to ensure protection of the area inside the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex where the 'Shivling' was purportedly found, and allowed Muslims to offer 'namaz' and perform religious observance.