New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to suspend Hindu prayers at the southern basement of the Gyanvapi Mosque and sought a response from the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Management Committee to the mosque’s management committee’s plea.
The Supreme Court also issued a status quo for Muslims praying at the Gyanvapi building in Varanasi.
“As per the orders dated January 17 and 31, ‘Namaz’ was conducted freely by the Muslim community at Gyanvapi Mosque and ‘Puja’ was conducted by Hindu priests,” the bench said. In Tekana district, it is appropriate to maintain the status quo. Both communities can hold church services under the above conditions.
The court accepted an appeal filed by the Gianwapi Masjid Management Committee challenging the Allahabad High Court’s order upholding the trial court’s order allowing Hindus to pray in the southern basement of the mosque.
A bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud also asked Reverend Shilander Kumar Pathak Vyas, representative of the mosque committee, to respond by April 30.
A jury consisting of judges J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra heard the request of the mosque committee responsible for overseeing the affairs of the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi.
On February 26, the Supreme Court dismissed the commission’s petition challenging the district court’s January 31 order allowing Hindus to pray in basements.
In its dismissal, the Supreme Court said the Uttar Pradesh government’s 1993 decision to suspend worship at the Vyas Thekana in the basement south of Gyanvapi was considered “illegal”.