New Delhi: The Supreme Court today questioned the Varanasi authorities on the location of the โShivlingโ (Lord Shivaโs emblem) within Gyanvapi mosque in Uttar Pradesh.
The Supreme Court asked the administration a question during the hearing of a petition filed by the mosque committee, which requested that the authorities in Varanasi halt surveying the mosque complex.
โWhere exactly was the โShivlingโ found?โ Justice DY Chandrachud said.
โWe havenโt received the report,โ said Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who represented the Uttar Pradesh government, and requested time until tomorrow to provide specifics.
Mr Mehta said the place where the โShivlingโ was found was sealed to avoid any law and order issues if someone who came to offer namaz (prayers) touched it with their feet. The โShivlingโ was said to be found in a pond, used for โwazooโ or purification rituals before namaz.
The Supreme Court then ordered the Varanasi District Magistrate to protect the area where the โShivlingโ was discovered while allowing Muslims to attend namaz at the mosque.
A local court ordered it sealed yesterday, following a dramatic claim by Hindu petitioners that a โShivlingโ had been discovered in a pond within the Gyanvapi masjid complex. The โShivlingโ was allegedly discovered during a court-ordered filming of the mosque compound in response to a petition demanding access to a shrine behind the mosque for prayer.
The claim was refuted by Muslim petitioners, who claimed it was a โfountain, not a Shivling.โ
During todayโs Supreme Court hearing, Muslim petitioners questioned how the city court could order the location to be sealed since the committee that assessed the complex had not yet completed its report.
โHow did the court proceed based on the submission of the other party and seal the place? Look at the way the orders are passed,โ the Muslim petitioners told the Supreme Court.
Next to the famous Kashi Vishwanath temple lies the Gyanvapi mosque. Five ladies have petitioned the court to allow daily prayers in front of idols on the templeโs outer walls, as well as other โvisible and unseen deities within the historic temple compound.โ Once a year, the place is available for prayers.
The Varanasi Civil Court ordered a video inspection of the mosque complex, which includes three domes, underground basements, and a pond, and appointed court commissioners to conduct the inspection.
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