Gyanvapi Masjid Case: Earlier this week, claims were made that a Shivling was found during survey.
The Supreme Court, hearing a petition challenging the filming of Varanasi's Gyanvapi mosque, on Friday said "selective leaks" to the press must stop. This comes after Hindu petitioners released details of the mosque filming report just hours after it was handed over to a Varanasi court in a sealed cover on Thursday. The Supreme Court also said there is a "need for healing touch" and a sense of "balance and calm on the ground" is needed.
Earlier this week, lawyers representing these petitioners claimed that a Shivling was found during the videography survey of the Gyanvapi mosque-Shringar Gauri complex. The claim was disputed by the mosque committee members who said it was part of the water fountain mechanism in the wazookhana reservoir, used by devotees to perform ritual ablutions before offering namaz. The district court had then ordered the sealing of the ‘wazookhana'.
The Supreme Court had directed the Varanasi court on Tuesday to ensure the protection of the area where the Shivling is claimed to have been found, but without impeding “religious observances”.
Here are the updates on Gyanvapi mosque case:
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Top Official Asked To Make Arrangements In Mosque For Wazu (Ritual Before Namaaz)
Supreme Court has asked the Varanasi District Magistrate to make arrangements in the mosque for practice of Wazu (purification ritual before namaaz)
Gyanvapi Mosque Case Transferred From Civil Judge To District Judge In Varanasi
Supreme Court transfers Gyanvapi Mosque case from Civil judge to District Judge in Varanasi.
Not Commented On Judge Hearing The Case: Supreme Court
"We have not said anything about the Judge. We have said in a positive way that a senior and experienced person should handle," says Supreme Court
A Hybrid Structure In Not Unknown In India: Supreme Court
"Let us keep the mosque and temple aside for one moment. But a hybrid structure is not unknown in India. The presence of a cross does not make a Zoroastrian faith a place of Christian worship and vice-versa," says Supreme Court after report of the filming of Varanasi's Gyanvapi Masjid appears to back claims of the presence of Hindu idols and symbols inside the mosque.
Sealing The Area Will Affect Prayers, Say Muslim Petitioners
Sealing the pond area at the Gyanvapi Masjid complex where Hindu petitioners claim that a "Shivling" had been found will affect the practice of "Wazoo" or purification rituals before namaaz, say Muslim petitioners.
Interim Order On Securing Shivling To Stay, Says Suprme Court
The Supreme Court suggests that it could continue the interim order to keep the Shivling area safe in the mosque but without hampering prayers by Muslims.
Selective Leaks To Press Must Stop: Supreme Court
"Selective leaks must stop. Things are being leaked to the press. It was to be submitted in Court. Court has to open it," says Supreme Court
Need a degree of healing touch, says Supreme Court
We need a sense of balance and calm on the ground, says Supreme Court
We are on a joint mission for preserving a sense of balance in the country, says Supreme Court
Suit Should Be Heard By A District Judge: Supreme Court
"This is a complex and sensitive matter. We think that the suit should be heard by a District Judge instead of a trial Judge. Because better if a more seasoned hand hears it," the Supreme Court said
"Threat To Democracy": Ashok Gehlot Over Varanasi's Gyanvapi Mosque CaseAfter the Supreme Court adjourned the hearing in Varanasi's Gyanvapi mosque case till Friday, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot slammed the Centre for "doing politics in the name of religion" and posing a "threat to democracy".
Addressing reporters in Jaipur on Thursday, Chief Minister Gehlot said, "Where is the country heading? The Centre is doing politics in the name of religion. This is posing a threat to democracy."
"Common people have to realise that they are being misled in the name of religion. This is not in favour of public interest," he added.
The mosque management committee has restricted the number of people who can offer namaz at the Gyanvapi mosque so those coming in late or beyond the quota being asked to go to other smaller mosques for namaz by the management committee.
"Any Demolition Will Spoil Atmosphere": Gyanvapi Mosque Committee To CourtThe Gyanvapi mosque committee today filed an affidavit before the Varanasi court over a plea by Hindu petitioners asking for demolition inside the mosque. Objecting to the controversial 'shivling' claims by petitioners, it said calling it a shivling is not within the rights of petitioners or the court commissioner.
The report of the filming of the Gyanvapi Masjid was submitted to a court this morning in a case involving a request by Hindu petitioners to worship idols inside the mosque complex.
The affidavit states that no further plea should have been filed by petitioners before a decision based on the court commissioner's report.
Varanasi's Gyanvapi Mosque: Report, Meant For Court, Is Made PublicThe report of the filming of Varanasi's Gyanvapi Masjid was submitted in court today in a case involving Hindu petitioners requesting access to worship what they claim are idols of Hindu gods and goddesses inside the mosque complex.
A copy of the report, submitted in a sealed envelope, was shared by the lawyers of the petitioners hours later and it appears to back their claims of the presence of Hindu idols and symbols inside the Gyanvapi mosque. NDTV cannot independently verify the details.
The report shared by the petitioners says symbols of a "Trishul" or trident, lotus engravings and ancient Hindi carvings have been found in the video survey of the mosque complex that is right next to the iconic Kashi-Vishwanath temple.
Varanasi's Gyanvapi Mosque: Report, Meant For Court, Is Made PublicThe report of the filming of Varanasi's Gyanvapi Masjid was submitted in court today in a case involving Hindu petitioners requesting access to worship what they claim are idols of Hindu gods and goddesses inside the mosque complex.
A copy of the report, submitted in a sealed envelope, was shared by the lawyers of the petitioners hours later and it appears to back their claims of the presence of Hindu idols and symbols inside the Gyanvapi mosque. NDTV cannot independently verify the details.
The report shared by the petitioners says symbols of a "Trishul" or trident, lotus engravings and ancient Hindi carvings have been found in the video survey of the mosque complex that is right next to the iconic Kashi-Vishwanath temple.
"Aurangzeb Captured Property": Hindu Side On Varanasi's Gyanvapi MosqueThe lawyers representing the Hindu devotees yesterday urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the petition filed by the Varanasi's Gyanvapi mosque committee, challenging the filming inside the mosque.
The Supreme Court had earlier issued a notice to the Hindu side and the Uttar Pradesh government on the plea filed by the mosque committee, which also accused the Varanasi court-appointed commissioner of partiality.
In the written response, the lawyers for the Hindu devotees claimed that the property belongs to Lord Adi Vishweshwar since much before the Islamic rule in India, and it was forcibly captured by Aurangzeb.