New Delhi: The Supreme Court Friday extended its earlier order for the protection of ‘Shivling’ discovered at Gyanvapi mosque complex, Varanasi. The SC extends the protection till further order.

On Thursday, a bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices Hima Kohli and JB Pardiwala said it will constitute a bench to hear the matter.

“We will constitute a bench for hearing tomorrow at 3 pm itself,” the apex court said on Thursday.

SC ordered to protect the area where Shivling was discovered

On May 17, the Supreme Court issued an interim order directing to protect the area where the “Shivling” was discovered and granting access to Muslims for namaz. The order stated that this protection should continue until the Varanasi court decides whether the lawsuit can be maintained, and then for an additional eight weeks to allow parties to pursue legal remedies.

Interim injunction must be renewed

Hindu parties’ attorney Vishnu Shankar Jain brought up the issue before the supreme court in an effort to extend the temporary order safeguarding “Shivling.”

The interim injunction must be renewed, according to Jain, as it is set to expire on November 12. He further emphasised the fact that the Muslim parties’ application under Order 7 Rule 11 (rejection of plaintiffs) was turned down.

The Varanasi district court in September had held that the suit was not barred under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.

Supreme Court has appointed a commissioner for survey

The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, which oversees the Gyanvapi mosque, had argued that the claim brought by Hindu women was not feasible , but it had been rejected.

The Supreme Court is currently considering an appeal that the Committee filed in opposition to an order by the Allahabad High Court allowing a court-appointed commissioner to inspect, survey, and film the Gyanvapi mosque, where both Hindus and Muslims have claimed the right to worship.

On May 20, the Supreme Court issued an order transferring the civil judge’s civil case involving worship at the Gyanvapi mosque to the Varanasi District Judge.

It had said that District Judge should decide the maintainability of the civil suit in the Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath on priority as sought by the Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Varanasi.

(sematext)