As a major development in the Gyanvapi Mosque dispute, the Varanasi court on Monday, ordered to seal the place, where 'Shivling' was claimed to have been found. The court, in its order, also said that only 20 Muslims should be allowed to pray at the mosque and they should not be allowed to perform wuzu (ablution) at that partcular place where the "shivling" has bee found. The order was released following an application filed by advocate Hari Shankar Jain, representing the petitioners. The Hindu side has claimed that a "Shivling '' has been found in a pond at the Gyanvapi Masjid complex. However the Muslim side denied this claim and called it was a fountain. The order by the court stated, “This is very important evidence. Hence, the CRPF commandant should be directed to seal it. Varanasi District Magistrate should be directed to stop the entry of Muslims. Only 20 Muslims should be allowed to pray at the mosque and they should not be allowed to perform wuzu (ablution).” The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee has challenge the order to seal the Wuzu area in the Supreme Court.
GyanVapi Mosque distpute| Key Points
1. The ongoing case in Gyanvapi mosque dispute was filed in April 2021 by 5 women- Rakhi Singh, Laxmi Devi, Sita Sahu, Manju Vyas and Rekha Pathak with a demand to worship daily Shringar Gauri, Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman and Nandi located on the outer wall of the Gyanvapi mosque. Additionally, they asked that there should be no restriction or hindrance by the caretakers of the mosque. For the time being, Hindus are only allowed to worship Shringar Gauri, once in a year, on the fourth day of Chaitra Navratri.
2. On 26 April 2022, the Varanasi senior division civil court ordered a survey and videography by the advocate commissioner at the mosque complex and to submit a report by May 10.
3. On 6th and 7th May 2022, following the court orders, a team led by an appointed advocate commissioner, Ajay Kumar Mishra accompanied by a team of lawyers and opposing legal parties, surveyed the Shrinagar Gauri site located on the outer wall of the Gyanvapi mosque. However, their work faced hindrance on both days, amid protests and sloganeering. The second party claimed the photography was not allowed inside the mosque but the lawyers of the petitioners claimed it was allowed as per the court orders.
Also Read | All eyes on Supreme Court hearing in Gyanvapi mosque case
4. On 9 May 2022, the Mosque committee approached the court and demanded to appoint any other advocate commissioner, accusing Ajay Kumar Mishra for partiality. However after hearing both the sides, court refused the removal of Mishra and appointed two additional Commissioners, lawyers Vishal Singh and Ajay Pratap Singh, to assist Mishra.
5. On May 12 the court ordered the committee to continue the videography and survey and submit the report of the findings on May 17.
6. On May 13 the Muslim side approached Supreme Court challenging the Allahabad High Court order, that dismissed the plea against the Civil court’s order for the survey. However the Supreme Court refused to stop the survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque but agreed to hear the plea challenging the Allahabad HC order.
7. On May 16 the team concluded its survey and the Hindu side claimed a Shivling was found in the mosque complex. The other side opposed this claim and called it a fountain in the Wuzu (ablution) area. The Supreme Court will hear the plea filed by the mosque management committee on May 17.
Also Read | AIMPLB slams Gyanvapi survey, no 'Shivling' found
8. After the completion of the survey, District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said, “The court commissioner had given directions to all parties that until the report is submitted in court on May 17, no one should disclose what was found inside. But still if someone of their own will has given some information, then it can’t be verified by anyone. Only the court is the custodian of this information. If someone has told you something, it is a personal thought. It has nothing to do with the court commission’s action.”
