From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the concerned Varanasi court before which the proceedings are pending in the Gyanvapi mosque not to take any further action since it is taking the matter into its own hand, adjourning it for hearing on Friday from 3 PM.
The decision by the Bench of Justices Dr D Y Chandrachud and Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha came after the court was informed that Senior Advocate Hari Shankar Jain, who is representing the Hindu side before the Varanasi court and was indisposed on the last date of hearing, had been discharged from hospital only Wednesday.
A court-appointed commission that was asked to conduct a survey of the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque complex, filed a sealed report in a Varanasi court on Wednesday. Special Advocate Commissioner Vishal Singh also submitted three boxes, each containing video recordings from the separate days of the survey — May 14, 15 and 16.
The apex court had earlier ordered authorities to secure the site in the complex where a Shivling was claimed to have been found, and allowed people to offer prayers at the mosque without restrictions.
However, an official of the management committee said, “The faithful are not able to do wazu because the area where water is available through taps has been sealed. We have requested the namazis to do wazu at home before coming to the mosque.”
Senior Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the Committee of Management of Anjuman Intezamia Masjid, Varanasi, told the bench that his “only apprehension is that an application has been filed to demolish a wall near the wazu khana” and proceedings are going on.
The bench told Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who made the request for adjournment, that in view of the apprehension expressed by the other side, they should not press for a hearing before the trial court on Thursday.
The counsel agreed to the suggestion and the court recorded this and directed the trial court to strictly act in terms of its previous order and to desist from taking any further action in the suit.
