New Delhi
: The Supreme Court on Friday ordered of transferring the Gyanvapi case to District Judge of Varanasi. The top court said that senior and experienced judicial officer of Uttar Pradesh Judicial services will hear the case.
The top court cited that having regard to the sensitivity of this civil suit case, the case is transferred from civil judge senior division Varanasi to district judge Varanasi.
Earlier in the day, the Gyanvapi Mosque witnessed its first Friday prayers at the premises since ‘Shivling’ was claimed to have been found during a court-ordered survey.
However, the advocate from Hindu side expressed happiness over the decision and said, “Supreme Court says the trial of the matter will be done by district judge Varanasi. SC says its interim order of May 17 for protection of Shivling area will continue. Arrangement of Wuzu will be done. We’re very happy with order.”
In its appeal to allow Muslims to offer prayers, the Anjuman Intaza Mian Masajid Committee, in the wake of the Gyanvapi controversy, had appealed for the least number of people to attend the Friday prayers today. One of the devotees who arrived there confirmed that the prayers concluded peacefully.
People gathered for namaz at the Gyanvapi Mosque premises at 1.30 pm and performed it without ‘wazu’.
The Fridays prayers were observed after the Supreme Court directed the district magistrate of Varanasi, on Tuesday, to ensure the protection of the area (where claimed ‘Shivling’ was found) inside the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex and allowed Muslims to offer ‘namaz’ and perform “religious observances” at the premises.
The top court is scheduled to hear the proceedings related to Gyanvapi at 3 PM today as the advocate appearing for the Hindu side informed the apex court that the senior advocate Hari Shankar Jain was unwell and thus had requested the court to hear it today.
(With inputs from ANI)
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