The Gyanvapi mosque dispute witnessed a dramatic turn of events on Monday when a “Shivling” was purportedly found in the mosque premises after the conclusion of a court-mandated video survey.
For some quick context: A Varanasi court had ordered the survey – despite push back from the mosque’s managing committee – after five Hindu women moved a petition asking for year-long access to a Hindu shrine located behind the mosque’s wall.
The advocate representing the “Hindu side” said yesterday that the “Shivling” was found in a wuzu-khana – a place where devotees cleanse themselves before offering namaz. The Varanasi court accordingly issued an order to seal off the area. The mosque committee said the “Shivling” was actually part of a water fountain.As the case continues to unfold, here’s how some leading Hindi newspapers covered these developments this morning.
Direction to appeal in the High Court:–
Let us tell you that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conducted a survey in Gyanvapi on Monday. The Muslim side filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the ASI’s survey. In the petition, Gyanvapi Masjid Management Committee, Anjuman Intezamia Masjid has sought a stay on the Varanasi district court’s decision. Senior advocate Huzaifa Ahmadi appeared in the Supreme Court on behalf of Anjuman Intezamia Masjid. Let us tell you that the district court of Varanasi had ordered the survey of Gyanvapi. On this, the Supreme Court has asked the Gyanvapi Masjid Management Committee to appeal to the Allahabad High Court to stay the Varanasi district court’s decision.
The Muslim side demanded to maintain the status quo:-
The counsel for the Muslim side said that the ASI survey has started on Monday and it is our appeal that it should be postponed for two-three days. On this, the court said that no excavation or demolition is being done by the ASI, so how can prayer in the mosque be affected? On this, the counsel for the Muslim side said that the Supreme Court had earlier also banned the carbon dating of the Shivling-like structure found in the mosque, so what is the hurry for the survey now. The place has been a mosque since the 1500s. Ahmadi asked the Supreme Court to maintain the status quo.
On this, the Supreme Court stayed the survey of Gyanvapi campus till 26th July i.e. Wednesday and ordered to maintain the status quo. Also asked the Muslim side to approach the High Court for a stay on the Varanasi district court’s decision. At the same time, Vishnu Shankar Jain, the lawyer of the Hindu side, has also talked about filing a caveat in the High Court.