Supreme Court: In a plea by Gyanvapi Mosque committee’s challenging the Allahabad High Court’s order allowing the performance of ‘puja’ in the ‘Vyas ji Tehkhana’ or the southern cellar of the structure, the three Judge Bench of Dr. DY Chandrachud, CJI., J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, JJ. , has issued notices and passed an ad interim order to maintain status-quo concerning the prayers being offered at the Gyanvapi mosque complex.
On 26-02-2024, the Allahabad High Court upheld the Varanasi Court’s order, wherein the Court directed the District Magistrate to get puja, raga performed of idols located in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi Mosque, through a priest nominated by Kashi Vishwanath Trust Board and plaintiff.
The Court remarked that bearing in mind the fact that the ‘namaz’ is offered in Gyanvapi mosque by the Muslim community unhindered after the orders dated 17-01-2024 and 31-01-2024, and the offering of ‘puja’ by Hindu priest is confined to the area of ‘Tehkhana’, it is appropriate to maintain status-quo to enable both the communities to offer worships in the above terms.
The Bench also summoned a response from priest Shailendra Kumar Pathak Vyas BY 30-04-2024 on behalf of the Mosque Committee.
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Source: Press