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Top Court noted that the priest nominated by the Kashi Vishwanath Trust had been permitted to offer pooja at the Tehkhana and the namaz was continuing in respect of the area of the mosque
The Supreme Court has allowed the Hindu Priest nominated by the Kashi Vishwanath Trust to continue offering pooja at the Vyas Tehkana or the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi.
"At this stage, bearing in mind that NAMAZ IS BEING OFFERED UNHINDERED post the impugned order and the OFFERING OF POOJA BY HINDU PRIEST IS CONFINED TO THE AREA OF THE TEHKHANA, it would be appropriate to maintain status quo and allow both the sides to carry on with their religious observances", a CJI Chandrachud led bench ordered today.
Court has further ordered that status quo shall not be disturbed by either of the parties without the leave of the supreme court.
Earlier today, the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee had expressed its apprehension before the Supreme Court of India of the Gyanvapi Mosque being taken over bit by bit.
This statement was made by Senior Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi while referring to the order allowing 'Pooja' in 'Vyas Tehkana' or the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi.
"An overwhelming case is made out to stay this order..the fact that any pooja was conducted in the cellar is also an averment..now there are three applications pending for other areas to do things..the serious apprehension is that bit by bit we will lose the entire mosque..", the bench was told.
Ahmadi further referred to the order saying it was an egregious order. "..with all due respect..please see the order..they are allowing the puja to happen within the mosque...we have serious apprehension", he added.
CJI Chandrachud also sought clarification from the parties asking if he was correct in saying that the entrance to the cellar does not affect the namaz going on in the mosque on the north side stairs.
In February, the Allahabad High Court had denied the Masajid Committee's plea for an interim stay on 'Pooja' in 'Vyas Tehkana'.
Shortly after the January 31 order of the Varanasi district court allowing Hindu devotees to worship in 'Vyas Tehkana', the pooja began.
Challenging the local court's directions, the mosque management committee moved the Supreme Court, which redirected it to the Allahabad High Court.
On January 31, the Varanasi District Court granted permission to priest Shailendra Kumar Pathak, who filed a plea seeking direction to allow him the right to worship Hindu deities in the cellar of the Gyanvapi.
Pathak had submitted before the District Court that his maternal grandfather, priest Somnath Vyas, conducted prayers in the Gyanvapi cellar until 1993 when it was shut down by the Uttar Pradesh Government.
Case Title: Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Varanasi vs. Shailendra Kumar Pathak
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