Pinnacle Court to listen to pleas referring to Gyanvapi mosque case on July 21

The plea was mentioned for urgent hearing by advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain before a Bench of justice of India NV Ramana, Justice Krishna Murari and Hima Kohli which posted it for hearing on July 21 together with other related pleas

The Supreme Court on Monday posted July 21 for hearing a plea filed by Hindu devotees seeking the correct to worship the *Shivling* that was found at the disputed Gyanvapi site, which is adjacent to the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi.

The plea was mentioned for urgent hearing by advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain before a Bench of jurist of India NV Ramana, Justice Krishna Murari and Hima Kohli which posted it for hearing on July 21 together with other related pleas.

"This could be a petition to permit darshan and puja of the Shivling which has been found within the complex and also to direct the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to try and do dating," Jain said.

The Bench said the fresh plea are going to be heard together with the petition filed by Anjuman Intezemia Masjid Committee, which manages the Gyanvapi mosque, challenging the survey report of the court-appointed Commission which inspected, and conducted a survey of the mosque.

The plea sought direction to permit worship of the *Shivling* and for Kashi Vishwanath Temple trust to require possession of the Shivling. It further sought carbon-14 dating of the Shivling purportedly discovered within the Gyanvapi mosque.

The plea also sought direction for Kashi Vishwanath*s trust to require possession of the Shivling.

"Direct the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to form an appropriate survey or undertake Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and/or excavation associating the petitioners to search out out the character of construction beneath the Shivlingam discovered on May 16, 2022. Direct the Central government to put in live video streaming equipment to stream on the web site of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Trust... making it possible for the devotees to own virtual darshan and perform symbolic pooja...," the plea stated.

Another plea was filed within the top court seeking a direction to permit Hindus to perform religious practices or rituals at the Shivling.

The petition filed by one Rajesh Mani Tripathi, president of the Shri Krishana Janama Bhumi Mukti Sthal, has said that since the month of *Shravana* is starting, Hindus could also be allowed to supply puja and exercise their right.

"The petitioner*s right to preaches his own religious practices and rituals in line with Hindu customs as provided under Article 25 of the Constitution of India and it's a facts that the month of Shravana is being celebrated to supply puja to Lord Shiva... and also the petitioner came before the court seeking permission to practice his prayer within the month of Shravana to supply puja, exercise the rights of "freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion" as guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution of India," the plea stated.

Furthermore, the plea said that the petitioner wishes to perform religious practices as guaranteed under the Constitution of India on the *Shivling* found during the survey conducted in pursuance of the order gone the concerned Court of Varanasi.

On May 20, the Supreme Court ordered the transfer of the case associated with worship at Gyanvapi mosque from the civil judge to the District Judge, Varanasi.

It had ordered that its interim order passed on May 17 -- to shield the realm where the Shivling was found and access to Muslims for namaz -- shall continue operating till maintainability of the suit is determined and thereafter for eight weeks to enable parties to pursue legal remedies.

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

The appeal was filed by the Committee that manages the Gyanvapi mosque within the top court challenging an order of Allahabad tribunal permitting a court-appointed commissioner to examine, conduct a survey and videography of the Gyanvapi mosque to which Hindus and Muslims have laid claim for the correct to worship.