SC order on Gyanvapi mosque row
GS Paper - 2 (Polity)
The Supreme Court on 17 May 2022 directed the Varanasi administration to protect and seal the exact area where a Shivling was found inside the Gyanvapi mosque complex during a video survey. The top court, however, directed the authorities to ensure that Muslims are not prevented from entering the mosque to offer namaz prayers.
Key point of order
- The court also said there should not be any restriction on the number of Muslims entering the complex for prayer or any other religious ritual.
- The bench was hearing a plea of the committee of management Anjuman Intezamia Masjid, which manages the affairs of Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi.
- The area where Shivling is found shall be protected. The order shall not in any manner restrict or impede the entry of Muslims to mosque for namaz or religious observances.
- The SC order overruled a trial judge ruling allowing entry to only 20 Muslims to enter the mosque for namaz.
- The apex court issued a notice to the plaintiff on whose plea the trial court had ordered the survey of the mosque and posted the matter for further hearing on 19 May 2022.
